South Africa wants to supplement its power capacity because of problems at state utility Eskom’s fleet of coal-fired power plants, some of which will be decommissioned over the next two decades.
The energy ministry aims to use the consultation process - known as a Request for Information - to get some idea of the cost, possible ownership structures, cost recovery, the end-user cost and sustainability of the nuclear programme, it said in a statement.
“Given the long lead-time of building additional new nuclear capacity, upfront planning is necessary for security of energy supply to society into the future,” the energy ministry said.
