OREANDA-NEWS.  Rusatom Overseas is a major sponsor of the annual Nuclear Africa Conference and Exhibition meeting held in Midrand, South Africa, on 18–20 March. The conference which was attended by international nuclear industry players is a significant meeting on the calendar event of the Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa (NIASA). Rusatom Overseas is a member of NIASA.

South Africa’s Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe and Energy Minister Dipuo Peters were senior government figures that attended and delivered speeches at the conference. Deputy President Motlanthe said “there is every reason to have confidence in the belief that the South African industry can play a major role in the construction and fabrication of nuclear power plants. In fact it is desirable that the South African industry place itself in the position to be able to export nuclear power components internationally”.
Minister Peters said “we need to ensure that energy security is pursued as a catalyst for economic growth and prosperity throughout the (African) continent. In looking at nuclear energy, South Africa was in the process of finalizing the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2010 – 2030 when the Fukushima nuclear accident occurred. The IRP envisages 9 600MW of additional nuclear capacity by 2030”.

Mr Alexander Kirillov, Head of ROSATOM Marketing Office in South Africa impressed upon the delegates ROSATOM’s integrated nuclear technology solution. Mr Kirillov emphasised that ROSATOM is the world’s only company that offers solutions within a complete nuclear power cycle. Other features that set ROSATOM poles apart from its competitors includes absorbing local industry players in ROSATOM’s global supply chain management and offer generous terms on the localisation of production. As such localisation within a South African context will at the initial stage of the project be at 30% of production and eventually rise to 65% of production according to Mr Kirillov’s estimation. During the localisation phase, South African companies stand to benefit from direct profits of USD 15bn US Dollars while it is envisaged that direct job opportunities of about 15 000 during the construction phase would be created. South Africa also stands during this period to benefit from tax revenues to an estimated tune of USD 3,4bn US Dollars.

Mr Kirillov said that ROSATOM had a good safety record on its nuclear plants as the reactors have been designed to withstand flooding, outside explosions, flight accidents, snow and ice loads, seismic loads, hurricanes, waterspouts and tornadoes. ROSATOM is the only nuclear industry player that provides a comprehensive integrated offer solution. This integrated offer includes energy solution; regulation, infrastructure and public acceptance element; industrial solution; financial solution; knowledge, skills and human capital capabilities.

South Africa is currently home to two nuclear power reactors in the Western
Cape, near Cape Town. This power station produces enough electricity for at least 2 million mid-income households. There is also a research reactor in the North West Province, which is not meant to produce electricity, but rather medical products that are used to treat over 10 million patients annually. It also serves as a research centre for many applications of nuclear from agriculture to industry.

According to South Africa’s  National Electricity Regulator, South Africa has coal, nuclear, hydro, gas and pumped storage power stations. By far coal stations are dominant. To this effect coal is the main source of electricity generation (91.7%), followed by nuclear being (4.2%) and the lowest electricity generator is pumped storage (1.7%).