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South Africa delays nuclear power procurement to enable more consultation

South Africa will postpone the launch of a procurement process for a brand-new nuclear power station to permit more consultation, its energy minister said on Friday, following legal obstacles.

The government said in December last year that it was preparing to demand quotes for an extra 2,500 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power, however the then opposition Democratic Alliance (DA). celebration and two non-governmental organisations introduced legal. obstacles to attempt to block the procurement.

The DA is now part of the country's unity federal government formed. after the African National Congress lost its parliamentary. bulk for the very first time in 3 decades in an election in. May.

Attending to reporters on Friday, Electrical Power and Energy. Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa yielded there ought to have been. greater public participation in the process.

He said he had actually decided to withdraw a file in the. federal government gazette that would have permitted the procurement to. proceed.

Authorities will rework a report dealing with conditions the. energy regulator provided for its assistance for the procurement and. consult the general public once again.

Ramokgopa made clear that the federal government still wanted to. broaden its nuclear capability beyond the 1,900 MW Koeberg plant. outside Cape Town at a pace and scale the nation could afford.

Nuclear becomes part of the future, however it is necessary that as. we go out and obtain, the procurement procedure must be able to. stand the test of time, the minister stated.

He approximated the procurement procedure might be delayed by. three to six months.

Lots Of South Africans are wary of the federal government's nuclear. aspirations after a 9,600 MW deal with Russia started during. Jacob Zuma's scandal-plagued presidency was warded off in 2017 by. a court difficulty.

South Africans have actually battled with power interruptions for many years,. however this year there has actually been a marked enhancement in power. availability with no power cuts for more than four months.

Koeberg is the only functional nuclear reactor on the. African continent. It was approved a 20-year life extension last. month.

(source: Reuters)