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Confusion over request for proposals on nuclear

Cape Town - The Department of Energy insists that the request for proposals (RFP) for South Africa’s nuclear build programme is going ahead as scheduled on 30 September 2016, a source in the Department said. 

Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor caused much confusion on Tuesday when she told journalists attending an economic cluster briefing that she doubted if the RFP would be issued this Friday.

Pandor chaired a briefing whereby feedback was given on the action plans of the economic portfolios in government.

Responding to journalists’ questions, Pandor said: “I cannot comment on what minister Joemat-Pettersson is planning for Friday, but I am almost certain that she wouldn’t be able to publish the RFP on that date. Let us wait and see." 

An assessment of South Africa’s energy needs hinges on an updated Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), which is currently outdated.

The IRP serves as a blueprint for the type and quantities of energy generation South Africa would require in future, but the current plan does not necessarily reflect the country's latest energy needs.

According to Pandor, government needs to process what is proposed in IRP before government could proceed with a request for proposal. “I think it is important for us to have agreed on the IRP at a minimum before we proceed,” Pandor said.

An official from the Department of Energy, however, told Fin24 on Friday that the request for proposals are going ahead as planned. “We really can’t speak on matters raised by other ministers,” the official said, “but as far as we’re concerned Minister (Tina Joemat-Pettersson) is committed to issuing the requests on Friday".

In the beginning of September, Joemat-Pettersson announced in parliament that her Department would officially issue the requests at month-end to “test the market”. 

READ: Controversial nuclear programme to launch at month-end

Pandor's comments however caused doubt on the matter, even among officials from the Energy Department who couldn't immediately confirm whether the RFPs would indeed be issued on Friday.

"I said I am not certain that the requests would be issued,” Pandor said, “given that the IRP is very important to the overall energy framework of South Africa. But I’m keenly waiting for Friday.” 

The current needs assessment for nuclear energy is based upon the Nuclear Energy Policy of 2008, while industry experts have warned that South Africa may very well have a surplus of energy in the near future, which doesn’t warrant a nuclear programme. 

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