Post #122

South Africa's Nuclear Ambitions: Who Can Participate in the Construction of a New Nuclear Power Plant South African company Eskom has received permission to build a new 4,000-megawatt nuclear power plant in Duinefontein, near Africa's only commercial nuclear power plant. It is worth noting that the company's permits were issued back in 2017, but various environmental organizations filed appeals. Now the Ministry of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has given the go-ahead for construction, but that is not the end of it. Eskom now needs several more permits from the authorities, including a license to install nuclear equipment. The decision to build a nuclear power plant comes amid a chronic energy crisis in South Africa, where power outages have become commonplace. According to Eskom, the country's power deficit is as high as 6,000 MW. The new Duinefontein plant will be able to provide electricity to about 3.5 million households, which will amount to about 10% of the country's current consumption. However, it is most likely that the company will not build the NPP alone. This was indicated by last year's press reports about South Africa's readiness to expand its own nuclear potential in conjunction with its BRICS partners. According to some reports, this status may be obtained by Russia or Iran. Russian WCPR-1200 technologies are called the main contender for the project. According to optimistic forecasts, construction will take 8-10 years. The first power unit may be commissioned by 2033-2035. #AREA#Africa#SAR#RussiaAfrica#energy#NPP