Cape Town – Energy and Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to procuring 2,500 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power, a move aimed at enhancing South Africa’s electricity generation capacity.
Speaking during a media briefing, Ramokgopa said that efforts to secure funding for the new nuclear power plant are well underway, with approval from the National Treasury anticipated by August.
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has already greenlit the nuclear build initiative.
Ramokgopa acknowledged that the Democratic Alliance (DA) has the right to challenge the government’s nuclear plans in court.
“They can go. It’s a matter before the courts. We will explain ourselves,” he said, underscoring that the existing policies, including the nuclear plan, are in line with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) adopted in 2019 and will be upheld by the executive.
[POLICY CLARITY] ‘The GNU is not a Federation of Parties. It’s a single executive led by President Ramaphosa. There are policy issues that the 6th Administration has passed, those are going to protected going into the future’ – Min Ramokgopa on the DA challenge to nuclear pic.twitter.com/vnDxfPyrAJ
— Jacob Maroga (@jacob_maroga) July 8, 2024
“The government of national unity is not a federation of parties. It’s a single executive led by President [Cyril] Ramaphosa. There are policy issues that the sixth administration has passed, those are going to be protected going into the future,” the minister said.
The minister also highlighted that the nuclear plan was consistent with the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) adopted in 2019.
“We are proceeding with it and the executive will defend, through the minister of energy and electricity, our position. Any player has got the right to go to court, we will clarify ourselves and the court will make that determination,” he said.
According to The Citizen, the DA’s legal challenge, filed in March, contests Nersa’s August 2023 decision, alleging procedural irregularities and irrationality.
The case is set for hearing in the Gauteng High Court on 15 and 16 October, with respondents, including Ramokgopa, required to submit their opposition papers by 26 July.
DA Member of Parliament Kevin Mileham argued that Nersa relied on outdated information from 2021 and called for an immediate review of the ministerial determination to procure new nuclear power, the reort said.
Ramokgopa, however, remains confident that the court will uphold the government’s position.
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Compiled by Betha Madhomu
