SA on nuclear path

Johannesburg - Initiatives have begun to prepare South Africa for its nuclear energy expansion, the minerals and energy department said on Wednesday.

"A range of feasibility studies covering all important components of the nuclear fuel cycle are being undertaken by [the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa)]," TB Maqubela told an energy indaba in Sandton.

He said recent debate in the energy sector ran the risk of "degenerating into a blame game".

"There is nothing wrong in pointing [out] areas that need to be improved.

"What we begin to see are rigid positions on particular sub-sectors of energy being the only ones that can solve the challenges facing the country," he said.

The emphasis of South Africa's move into the nuclear field remained on the attainment of security of fuel supply for future national energy needs while also being economically viable and competitive in the global market.

South Africa was demonstrating its commitment to nuclear energy by developing relationships with international players in fuel cycle services and preparing for the establishment of laboratories and facilities to create local skills and technology bases.

"The important step is to ensure that we have developed competency not only to operate nuclear power stations, but to be able to build our own innovations on the current technology and grow our own skilled manpower to execute projects of such magnitude," he said.

Maqubela said the government would introduce an integrated energy plan, which would include nuclear energy, later this year.

He said the department conceded that there were areas which needed improvement, saying that the management of the energy sector, especially energy needed to be reviewed.

While indications were that South Africa had emerged from recession, the approaching upturn would see energy challenges re-emerge.

"High prices may once again be back to the fore. The difference however is economies will be starting from a low base.

"We will not be immune to this."

Maqubela said the increasing access to energy services for the poor remained a challenge.

He called on the energy sector to focus on "energy poverty" and develop solutions to this challenge.

Business Unity SA chairperson Jerry Vilakazi told delegates that South Africa's energy security lay not only in the hands of the government.

Calling for international investment in the energy sector, Vilakazi said the pessimism surrounding the continent needed to be combated.

"The greatest obstacle that can hinder the flow of investment is the pessimism that prevails in discourse globally," he said.

Businesses and society as a whole had to work together to ensure that Africa began to feature high on the agenda of international investor discourse.

- Sapa