South Africa could slash nuclear power plant capital costs by 30 by converting its ageing coal-fired power stations into nuclear facilities, a move that would save trillions of rands on new grid infrastructure.
This is according to Zizamele Mbambo , Deputy Director-General: Nuclear Energy and Regulation Management at the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy DMRE, speaking during the Presidential Climate Commissions Energy Dialogue on the Role of Nuclear in South Africas Energy Mix event.
Despite its long-standing expertise in nuclear energy, South Africa lags behind other countries in capitalising on nuclear as a sustainable power solution. Nuclear contributes only a small portion of the national energy mix. We want to participate in the full value chain of the nuclear fuel cycle from mining, conversion and enrichment to fuel fabrication, power generation and management, he said.
While nuclear power has high upfront capital costs, these decline significantly after the first 20 years of operation. This is evident with Koeberg, which has become one of the most cost-effective power sources, he said, adding that Koeberg produces the cheapest electricity on South Africas grid, with operating costs of just 15 cents per kilowatt-hour.
Modern nuclear plants also offer flexibility to adjust power output based on demand, making them a reliable complement to renewables. Small modular reactors SMRs offer flexible, cost-effective deployment opportunities. These range from microreactors of 120 MW to large-scale units exceeding 1 000 MW, suitable for various applications across different regions, Mbambo said.
Nuclear power plants with lifespans of 60 years, extendable by another 20 years could provide jobs for up to 100 years when considering the construction, operation and decommissioning phases, he added.
Beyond electricity, nuclear technology can play a role in clean hydrogen production, offering a cost-effective method to support South Africas decarbonisation efforts, he said.
At its peak in the early 2030s, global nuclear capacity additions will reach 30 GW per year, five times the rate of the past decade. South Africa should consider joining international initiatives to support the role of nuclear energy in achieving Net Zero by 2050. Nuclear energy should also be considered for inclusion in the Green Taxonomy to enable investment into nuclear projects, Mbambo said.
At the 28 th Conference of the Parties COP-28, 25 countries pledged to triple their nuclear power capacity by 2050. At COP-29, this increased to 31 countries, with 14 of the worlds largest financial institutions endorsing the declaration to triple nuclear power, he said.
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