South Africa’s $72 billion nuclear project may progress in June

• 7 years ago (2017-04-10)
• David Flin

Africa 320 Nuclear 659

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According to recent reports, South Africa’s tender for the $72 billion expansion of its nuclear power plants will begin in June, when state utility Eskom requests proposals from companies bidding for the project. South Africa, which has Africa’s only nuclear power station, wants nuclear power to play a leading role in expanded power generation, helping to replace the ageing fleet coal-fired plants. Eskom has been asked to procure an additional 9600 MW of capacity.

However, Yolisa Tyantsi, Head of Communications for the National Treasury, said that a meeting with Eskom had indicated that Eskom “was not yet in a state of readiness to procure” more nuclear power. She added: “National Treasury is not in a position to disclose the discussions.”

An internal Eskom document suggests that Eskom will issue requests for proposals in June, set the deadline for bids in September, and for evaluation in December. The winning bidder will, according to the document, be decided in March 2018, with the contract signed between December 2018 and March 2019.

Khulu Phasiwe, Spokesperson for Eskom, said: “Nothing at this stage has been decided on. Those dates were suggestive dates. If everything goes well, we will issue a request for proposals around June.” She added that the National Treasury, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Public Enterprises still have to make their own findings.