“In today’s sitting of Parliament’s energy committee‚ the Minister of Energy‚ Tina Joemat-Pettersson‚ shamelessly contradicted herself as to the affordability of the nuclear build programme‚” Democratic Alliance (DA) MP Gordon Mackay said on Tuesday.

“The minister stated that an affordability study will be undertaken as part of the procurement process‚ and is quoted saying that ‘we are committed to a thorough cost benefit analysis of nuclear energy. It is part of the procurement process. We are not going to compromise our country in any way’.

“Yet just minutes later‚ the minister stated that the procurement of nuclear energy‚ as opposed to any other form of energy‚ is an absolute certainty. A more stark paradox could not exist.”

Mackay said the minister “has put the cart before the horse. Instead of first assessing whether nuclear energy itself is the most affordable source of energy‚ she has unequivocally committed to nuclear over any other possibly more affordable energy source.

“The minister should clarify this contradiction immediately. To this end‚ I will be submitting written questions in the National Assembly to provide her with an opportunity to do so.”