South Africa will postpone the start of its procurement process for a new nuclear power station to allow for additional public consultation, following legal challenges. The decision was announced by Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa on Friday.
The government had planned to request bids for an additional 2,500 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power by December last year. However, legal action from the then-opposition Democratic Alliance (DA) and two non-governmental organizations aimed to halt the procurement process.
The DA is now part of the unity government following the African National Congress’s loss of its parliamentary majority in the May elections. Minister Ramokgopa acknowledged the need for more public engagement and decided to withdraw the government gazette document that would have advanced the procurement.
Officials will revise a report based on conditions set by the energy regulator and seek further public input. Despite the delay, the government remains committed to expanding its nuclear capacity beyond the existing 1,900 MW Koeberg plant, but at a sustainable pace.
Ramokgopa indicated that the procurement process might be delayed by three to six months. Public skepticism remains high due to past controversies, including a failed 9,600 MW nuclear deal with Russia during Jacob Zuma’s presidency, which was annulled by a court in 2017.
South Africa has experienced power outages for years, but recent months have seen significant improvements in power availability, with no cuts for over four months.
