Publications
Partners
Johannesburg - Global lobby group Greenpeace on Wednesday again urged the government to abandon plans to build six new nuclear power stations, saying South Africa should instead focus on renewable energy sources.
"It should be increasing its clean energy ambitions - the only way to create a sustainable future the country so clearly needs," Greenpeace said.
SA's latest energy plan which was recently approved by the cabinet, the integrated resource plan 2 (IRP2), provides for 9 600 MW of nuclear power, two new coal-fired power stations and renewable energy as part of the mix.
Greenpeace said clean energy would only be a fifth of the supply by 2030.
"Doubling this ambition would mean a huge increase in the potential for job creation, and the growth of local renewable energy industries," it said.
It describes the inclusion of new nuclear power stations as "absurd, especially in the light of the nuclear impacts being felt by the Japanese".
"The IRP itself admits that higher nuclear costs could increase the price of electricity - nuclear energy investments will mean increased financial and safety risks for South Africans," said Greenpeace Africa climate campaigner Melita Steele.
She said SA should be more ambitious and invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and reduce the need for coal-fired power stations like Kusile.
"It should be increasing its clean energy ambitions - the only way to create a sustainable future the country so clearly needs," Greenpeace said.
SA's latest energy plan which was recently approved by the cabinet, the integrated resource plan 2 (IRP2), provides for 9 600 MW of nuclear power, two new coal-fired power stations and renewable energy as part of the mix.
Greenpeace said clean energy would only be a fifth of the supply by 2030.
"Doubling this ambition would mean a huge increase in the potential for job creation, and the growth of local renewable energy industries," it said.
It describes the inclusion of new nuclear power stations as "absurd, especially in the light of the nuclear impacts being felt by the Japanese".
"The IRP itself admits that higher nuclear costs could increase the price of electricity - nuclear energy investments will mean increased financial and safety risks for South Africans," said Greenpeace Africa climate campaigner Melita Steele.
She said SA should be more ambitious and invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy, and reduce the need for coal-fired power stations like Kusile.
