The South African government has confirmed the establishment of a body known as the National Nuclear Energy Executive Coordination Committee (NNEECC) to “lead, monitor, and ensure oversight” of the implementation of the country’s nuclear energy policy. However, the identities of those appointed to the committee have not yet been disclosed.

The country is still weighing its options with regard to a possible large-scale deployment of nuclear technologies in light of the recent nuclear accident in Japan. But the Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) for electricity, which was released earlier in the year, has outlined that some 9 600 MW of nuclear capacity could be developed by 2030.

Concerns have already been raised about the possible cost of the projects, with some reports referring to a price tag of over R1-trillion for the construction of three 3 200-MW reactors. However, these costs have been disputed by nuclear industry practitioners, as well as by Eskom, which is keen to participate in the nuclear roll-out with partners.

Eskom CEO Brian Dames said last week that the utility was continuing to conduct project development activities “across the portfolio of projects that are within the IRP”, including nuclear.

He also stressed that Eskom had not yet costed a possible nuclear programme, but that it would proceed on the principle that “we pay for nuclear in South Africa in line with international pricing”.

“There is certainty no intent, from an Eskom perspective, that South Africa should pay any more than what world nuclear prices would be,” Dames said.

In a response to a Parliamentary question posed by the Democratic Alliance’s Pieter van Dalen Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said the NNEECC would look into the decision making relating to financing, as well as other critical elements such as the legal and regulatory framework, skills development, stakeholder engagement and communication, the nuclear fuel cycle, industrialisation and localisation, funding and procurement.

She indicated that the identity of the representatives on the NNEECC would be “communicated in due course”.

The body would reportedly take decisions in a “phased manner” in order to reduce the risks associated with large-scale implementation of nuclear projects.

“The NNEECC will take all facts into consideration before arriving at their decisions. The matters of cost, of safety and affordability are key considerations that will be taken into account,” Peters said.