CAPE TOWN: South Africa expects to lift the care and maintenance status of its Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) by the first quarter of next year or even earlier, the electricity and energy minister said on Wednesday.
Once considered a global leader in the development of small modular nuclear reactors, South Africa halted its PBMR research in 2010 after spending more than 10 billion rand ($577 million) and before building a planned demonstration model.
“We are far advanced in (our) internal processes to make the case to lift the care and maintenance on the PBMR,” Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, the electricity and energy minister told a media briefing.
State-owned power utility Eskom currently operates the continent’s only commercial nuclear power station near Cape Town. Egypt is building its own plant, while countries including Namibia, Niger and Ghana are exploring nuclear options.
“We are seeing huge opportunities around the world, with major players on data centers the biggest investors on SMRs (small modular reactors),” he added.
South Africa’s 2025 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), expected to be published this week, outlines more than 105 gigawatts of new generation capacity by 2039. Renewable energy is projected to account for more than half of this, as the country seeks to reduce its dependence on coal.
New nuclear generation capacity of 5.2 gigawatts is foreseen, with gas at 16 gigawatts, wind at 34 gigawatts and solar PV at 25 gigawatts by 2039.
South Africa has ambitions to re-invigorate its nuclear industry, with the IRP suggesting that this industrialization plan will determine the merits of 10 gigawatts of new nuclear generation capacity.
Ramokgopa said China, South Korea, the US and Russia are among countries that could partner with the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation on developing small modular reactors.
“We don’t think we will run out of suitors who can partner with us on the PBMR.”
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South Africa aims to revive its small nuclear reactor technology
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South Africa aims to revive its small nuclear reactor technology
- Eskom currently operates the continent’s only commercial nuclear power station near Cape Town
- Egypt is building its own plant, while countries including Namibia, Niger and Ghana are exploring nuclear options
UN seeks emergency funding to support cyclone-hit Sri Lanka
COLOMBO: The United Nations called on international donors on Thursday to help provide crucial assistance to Sri Lanka, grappling with the aftermath of deadly Cyclone Ditwah.
The devastating storm, which hit the island nation late last month, killed at least 639 people and affected more than 2 million others — about 10 percent of the population — causing extensive damage to homes, roads, bridges, industries and agriculture.
Some 200 people are still missing.
The UN’s top envoy to the country, Marc-Andre Franche, announced plans for a $35.3-million emergency fund which he said was needed to feed and cater to the basic needs of 658,000 people who have been worst affected.
The fund excludes reconstruction of damaged infrastructure or personal property and focuses solely on immediate basic needs.
Franche said $9.5 million had already been secured, with the European Union, Switzerland, Britain and the United States among the donors pledging funds.
The United Nations urged member states and other donors to help raise the remaining $25.8 million for the daunting recovery and reconstruction effort.
The natural disaster, which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has described as the most challenging for his country, struck as Sri Lanka was emerging from its worst economic crisis.
It defaulted on its $46-billion external debt in April 2022, and secured a $2.9-billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund in early 2023, having only stabilized the economy earlier this year.
“The disaster is hitting the country at a moment when around 25 percent of Sri Lankans still live in poverty,” Franche told reporters in Colombo.
Ongoing monsoon rains continue to pose a hazard with continued landslide warnings, the UN said.
The devastating storm, which hit the island nation late last month, killed at least 639 people and affected more than 2 million others — about 10 percent of the population — causing extensive damage to homes, roads, bridges, industries and agriculture.
Some 200 people are still missing.
The UN’s top envoy to the country, Marc-Andre Franche, announced plans for a $35.3-million emergency fund which he said was needed to feed and cater to the basic needs of 658,000 people who have been worst affected.
The fund excludes reconstruction of damaged infrastructure or personal property and focuses solely on immediate basic needs.
Franche said $9.5 million had already been secured, with the European Union, Switzerland, Britain and the United States among the donors pledging funds.
The United Nations urged member states and other donors to help raise the remaining $25.8 million for the daunting recovery and reconstruction effort.
The natural disaster, which President Anura Kumara Dissanayake has described as the most challenging for his country, struck as Sri Lanka was emerging from its worst economic crisis.
It defaulted on its $46-billion external debt in April 2022, and secured a $2.9-billion bailout from the International Monetary Fund in early 2023, having only stabilized the economy earlier this year.
“The disaster is hitting the country at a moment when around 25 percent of Sri Lankans still live in poverty,” Franche told reporters in Colombo.
Ongoing monsoon rains continue to pose a hazard with continued landslide warnings, the UN said.
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