Cape town: Minister of Energy and Electricity, Dr. Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, announced that the Cabinet’s decision to lift the state of care maintenance on the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor is set to reestablish South Africa as a leading force in nuclear technology. This development was revealed during a media briefing on Sunday.

According to South African Government News Agency, Dr. Ramokgopa stated that South Africa is poised to regain its status as a significant player in the nuclear fuel cycle. The decision allows the country to explore both domestic and commercial opportunities in nuclear technology. The reopening of fuel development laboratories for research and development is expected to catalyze this progress. With the global rise of Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), South Africa aims to become a crucial supplier in this sector.

The Minister highlighted the country’s ambitious plans, citing the recent release of the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025, which includes installing 5200 megawatts of new nuclear capacity. This initiative is seen as pivotal in addressing the electricity needs of 600 million people across the continent, promoting industrialization, and supporting the decarbonization agenda through clean baseload power.

Dr. Ramokgopa emphasized South Africa’s commitment to nurturing a new generation of nuclear scientists and engineers. He expressed confidence that the country’s existing expertise and collaboration with universities would facilitate the development of a robust nuclear program.

The Minister also mentioned Duynefontein as a chosen location for South Africa’s new nuclear build, adjacent to Koeberg. The site has received the necessary Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval, paving the way for deploying 2400MW of nuclear energy. Other potential sites in the Eastern Cape are under consideration for future development.