Electricity Minister Ramokgopa affirms SA's commitment to scaling up nuclear capability

CAPE TOWN - Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has reaffirmed South Africa’s commitment to scaling up its nuclear capability after years of public opposition mothballed the plans of the Jacob Zuma administration.

Addressing the G20 Energy Transitions Working Group in Cape Town on Wednesday, Ramokgopa said the government planned to capitalise on its knowledge of pebble bed reactor technology to expand the country’s nuclear power. 

In August 2024, he withdrew a ministerial determination to procure 2,500 megawatts of nuclear energy over complaints that he had not adequately consulted the public beforehand. 

Ramokgopa said it’s time to revive the years of research and development that have been done on small modular reactors, as the first country to start developing one. 

READ: Plan to include small modular reactors in SA's energy mix still alive - Ramokgopa

He said a submission to obtain cabinet approval to take the project out of care and maintenance is at an advanced stage. 

“We will revive the pebble-bed modular reactor programme in South Africa, to ensure our country remains among the leading nations in the world in relation to small modular reactor development.”

Ramokgopa has informed the G20 gathering that the government is working with the International Atomic Energy Agency to produce a report on the conversion of coal-fired power stations to nuclear plants, as well as another on the nuclear energy outlook for Africa. 

As momentum towards reviving South Africa’s nuclear programme increases, Ramokgopa said he will host a nuclear energy summit in September on the margins of the G20 energy ministers’ meeting.