A nuclear physicist said he believes that a nuclear energy programme will build base load capacity and end the energy crisis experienced in South Africa.
Eskom announced last week that they would be forging ahead in building a 100MW small modular nuclear reactor.
Business Report quoted Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom’s group executive for generation, saying that the power utility was looking at building small 100MW modular nuclear reactors as part of its build programme at decommissioned coal sites.
Earlier this month it was reported that the Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said his department was seeking approval from the National Treasury for a 2500MW power plant to be built.
Dr Kelvin Kemm, a nuclear physicist and chief executive of Stratek Business Strategy Consultant, said that nuclear power was not new to South Africa.
“It was something that was revisited by South Africa in the 1990s and I don’t understand why we lost interest in it. We were actually the first country in Africa to look at nuclear energy as a source of energy. I believe that if we had built another nuclear plant in 2010 we would not have seen any load shedding,” said Kemm.
“The 2500MW nuclear plan always included the building of a 100MW small modular nuclear reactor. This is not a surprise to me and the Koeberg nuclear power station is the example that we need to follow – if we can produce more than the close to 2000MW of energy that Koeberg supplies, this would end our energy concerns.”
Kemm said that solar energy is too expensive.
“People say installing solar energy is cheaper than our power stations but we do not factor in how much it would cost for the ordinary person to install solar energy.
“The cost would be expensive and it would be much cheaper to rely on nuclear energy like the Koeberg nuclear plant which is something that we are already used to.
“For solar energy you also need to install batteries and that also comes with its own risks.”
Ruse Moleshe, managing director of RUBK, an energy and infrastructure consulting and advisory company, said that it was wise for Eskom to look into the nuclear option.
He said there are long lead times in the development and ultimately the implementation and commercial operation of such plants.
“Given the challenge the country faces, trying to decarbonise and to achieve security of electricity supply, nuclear becomes an obvious choice to investigate. It has provided stable and reliable supply around the clock using the Koeberg nuclear plant. Although capital costs are typically higher, the costs of operation are very low.”
Moleshe said that a demonstration of 100MW will give certainty around capital costs.
“South Africa has a proven track record in its operation, managing safety aspects and even the extension of life of the Koeberg nuclear power plant. The regulatory environment is conducive. The demonstration of a small nuclear modular reactor will also ensure that the country builds new skills and retains skills we already have because globally the nuclear industry is also looking at similar projects. If South Africa does not develop the capabilities, we could be left behind.”
Professor Wikus van Niekerk, dean of engineering at Stellenbosch University, said that small modular reactors (SMRs) are currently not commercially available.
“The current consensus is that it may take at least another 10 years before that will happen. The price of SMRs are also increasing every year and it is therefore unlikely that SMRs will be cheaper than large nuclear power stations. So it is just noise that should be ignored.”
The Mercury