Pretoria:Department of Electricity and Energy Minister, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has assured that public consultation on South Africa’s proposed nuclear expansion will be anchored in science and evidence rather than ideological bias.

According to South African Government News Agency, Ramokgopa delivered the keynote address at the South African Nuclear and Clean Energy Conference, emphasizing that the new nuclear build program would be based on the merits of scientific evidence. He confirmed that Eskom, the state-owned power utility, has submitted its feasibility programme for a 5200MW nuclear energy initiative in alignment with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025.

Ramokgopa stated that the department is preparing for public participation by drafting a proposed determination. He highlighted the importance of evaluating additional capacity based on scientific and evidential merit rather than preconceived biases towards specific energy technologies. The publication of the determination will serve as a statutory trigger for procurement, with the National Nuclear Regulator overseeing safety and licensing.

The Minister reflected on past challenges with the Kusile and Medupi power stations, describing them as lessons on poor planning. He emphasized the government's commitment to avoiding similar pitfalls in the nuclear build program to support South Africa’s economic goals with a robust power infrastructure.

Addressing the practical challenges, Ramokgopa acknowledged the skills deficit in nuclear construction due to the country's lack of recent experience in building nuclear power plants. He highlighted the need to develop local engineering talent and collaborate with international partners to build a pipeline of engineers for future nuclear projects.

Ramokgopa also mentioned that coal and nuclear energy could coexist, with the department and Eskom reviewing the coal fleet for potential longer operations based on various factors. He concluded by affirming the reliability, low carbon footprint, and cost-effectiveness of nuclear energy as part of South Africa's strategy to support economic growth and diversify energy supply.