South Africa Delays Nuclear Power Plant Plans for Further Consultation and Legal Challenges

South Africa has postponed its nuclear power plant procurement plan to allow for further public consultation, according to Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa.

This decision follows legal challenges from the Democratic Alliance (DA) party and two non-governmental organisations. Initially, the government had planned to request bids for 2,500 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power to supplement the country’s energy capacity. However, the DA, now part of the coalition government, opposed the move.

The delay comes as South Africa seeks to address longstanding challenges in its power sector, which has been plagued by rolling blackouts for years. President Cyril Ramaphosa recently signed the Electricity Regulation Amendment Act into law, aiming to enhance the efficiency of the sector by fostering competition. Despite progress, Ramokgopa acknowledged that the nuclear procurement process required greater public participation and withdrew a key government gazette document to facilitate this.

While the minister confirmed the government's commitment to expanding nuclear capacity beyond the existing 1,900 MW Koeberg plant, located outside Cape Town, he emphasized that the process must be transparent and legally sound. The delay could extend the procurement process by three to six months. The government’s nuclear plans have faced scrutiny, particularly after a controversial 9,600 MW deal with Russia, initiated under former President Jacob Zuma, was blocked by the courts in 2017.

South Africa's Koeberg plant, the only operational nuclear facility in Africa, was recently granted a 20-year life extension, underscoring the country’s continued reliance on nuclear energy as part of its future energy strategy.