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Eskom has complied with the process of the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) in its application for the Nuclear Installation Site Licence (NISL) in Thyspunt (Eastern Cape) and Duynesfontein (Western Cape) and takes exception to OUTA’s misinformed campaign that alleges Eskom is trying to rush through the process.

The NNR announced on 28 July 2016 that it had completed its initial review of the NISL applications that had been submitted to it by Eskom on 10 March 2016. The NNR announced that it had found both applications to be compliant with relevant national policies as well as the NNR Act and associated regulations and has accepted the applications for further processing.

The first phase of the NNR’s public participation process requires Eskom as the applicant to inform the public and solicit comment on the NISL application. On 29 June 2016, the NNR directed Eskom to begin the process to inform interested and affected parties. To this end, on 22 July Eskom started the process of informing persons, bodies, organisations, local authorities and municipalities, as prescribed by the NNR and published notices about its application in isiXhosa, Afrikaans and English in Provincial Gazettes and newspapers in and around the two areas. The notices requested interested and affected people to send their comments to the NNR by 29 August 2016. These dates are well within the period of 30 days that is prescribed in the National Nuclear Regulator Act (NNR Act).

The notices mentioned Eskom’s intention to construct and operate multiple nuclear installations (power reactors) and associated auxiliary nuclear installations of a plant type and technology not yet identified.

The second phase entails deeper engagement in the form of a formal public hearings process pursuant to the provisions of Section 21 (4) (b) of the NNR Act. During this process, Eskom is required to develop a Public Information Document (PID) in accordance with the NNR’s requirements which will be used by stakeholders to make in depth representations during the NNR’s public hearings process.

The Eskom Board provided its support in September 2015 to continue critical nuclear programme development activities. Eskom received correspondence from the Department of Energy (DoE) in December 2015, including a Section 34 determination under the Electricity Regulation Act, 2006, reconfirming its role as owner and operator of the 9 600 MW new build nuclear fleet. The DoE was endorsed as the procuring agency in terms of the Section 34 determination gazetted on 21 December 2015. Eskom is working with the DoE to define its responsibilities during the procurement process.

Issued by Eskom