Date: 27/11/2002
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: After visiting Electricit de France (EDF) in France
EXTRACT FROM REMARKS BY PREMIER MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK AFTER VISITING THE EDF IN FRANCE, 27 November 2002
The Koeberg nuclear power station is of critical importance to the people of the Western Cape - meeting almost 60% of our total energy requirements. As the Provincial Government we are determined to ensure that the electricity supply from Koeberg is affordable and sustainable, but most importantly that it also poses no safety risk to the people of our province.
This commitment to ensuring the highest international safety measures are in place at Koeberg is why we have made a site-visit to Electricit* de France (EDF) a priority during our visit to Europe. Our meetings with EDF top management and safety officials provide a valuable opportunity to discuss ways in which the Western Cape can learn more from France's experience in developing, and producing, safe nuclear energy.
In addition to the security breach earlier this year at Koeberg, which raised security concerns about the facility, the Government of the Western Cape is also committed to address issues of the storage of spent nuclear fuel (high level nuclear waste) at the plant, development issues in the zones around Koeberg specifically related to emergency and evacuation planning, late-phase emergency planning, and possibilities for additional safety measures. It is important for us to forge partnerships with and learn from those countries, which have a long, safe, and celebrated history in the development and utilisation of nuclear energy. France is one such nation - widely acknowledged as world leaders in the field.
France's decision to launch their nuclear energy program dates back to 1973 and the events in the Middle East, which led to the quadrupling of the price of oil by OPEC nations. At the time most of its electricity came from oil burning plants. France had, and still has, very few energy resources -no oil, no gas and very limited, almost exhausted coal resources. Over a period of 15 years France installed 56 nuclear reactors, many of them in densely populated regions. There are currently 59 reactors, together satisfying three-quarters of its electricity needs - even exporting electricity to other European countries.
With the experience Electricit de France (EDF) has gained in the operation of their more than fifty nuclear reactors, together producing more than three quarters of France's electricity supply, they are an invaluable source of information, knowledge and expertise. In particular the advances in safety technology, which allow the secure release of pressure in the unlikely event of a malfunction, could well inform our own policy decisions about future development in the different safety zones around Koeberg.
Ensuring the safety of the people of our province is our Provincial Government's first and foremost responsibility. For that reason the Government of the Western Cape will continue to engage in a constructive manner with local and foreign role-players looking at the issues of safety, development and environmental planning.
The attention of our Provincial Government was focused on these issues by the application to develop a new Pebble-Bed Reactor at Koeberg. Following the recent security breach, a delegation of senior Cabinet members joined me on a site visit to personally inspect the safety precautions. After a subsequent briefing of the Provincial Cabinet by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) we set in motion a process to conclude appropriate co-operative agreements on the operations at Koeberg with both the NNR and the City of Cape Town. We will also engage the South African National Government on the continued and future storage of spent nuclear fuel (high level nuclear waste) at Koeberg. All of these negotiations will also be informed by our discussions with EDF.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Office of the Premier, Western Cape
27 November 2002
Source: Western Cape Provincial Government
Title: Van Schalkwyk: After visiting Electricit de France (EDF) in France
EXTRACT FROM REMARKS BY PREMIER MARTHINUS VAN SCHALKWYK AFTER VISITING THE EDF IN FRANCE, 27 November 2002
The Koeberg nuclear power station is of critical importance to the people of the Western Cape - meeting almost 60% of our total energy requirements. As the Provincial Government we are determined to ensure that the electricity supply from Koeberg is affordable and sustainable, but most importantly that it also poses no safety risk to the people of our province.
This commitment to ensuring the highest international safety measures are in place at Koeberg is why we have made a site-visit to Electricit* de France (EDF) a priority during our visit to Europe. Our meetings with EDF top management and safety officials provide a valuable opportunity to discuss ways in which the Western Cape can learn more from France's experience in developing, and producing, safe nuclear energy.
In addition to the security breach earlier this year at Koeberg, which raised security concerns about the facility, the Government of the Western Cape is also committed to address issues of the storage of spent nuclear fuel (high level nuclear waste) at the plant, development issues in the zones around Koeberg specifically related to emergency and evacuation planning, late-phase emergency planning, and possibilities for additional safety measures. It is important for us to forge partnerships with and learn from those countries, which have a long, safe, and celebrated history in the development and utilisation of nuclear energy. France is one such nation - widely acknowledged as world leaders in the field.
France's decision to launch their nuclear energy program dates back to 1973 and the events in the Middle East, which led to the quadrupling of the price of oil by OPEC nations. At the time most of its electricity came from oil burning plants. France had, and still has, very few energy resources -no oil, no gas and very limited, almost exhausted coal resources. Over a period of 15 years France installed 56 nuclear reactors, many of them in densely populated regions. There are currently 59 reactors, together satisfying three-quarters of its electricity needs - even exporting electricity to other European countries.
With the experience Electricit de France (EDF) has gained in the operation of their more than fifty nuclear reactors, together producing more than three quarters of France's electricity supply, they are an invaluable source of information, knowledge and expertise. In particular the advances in safety technology, which allow the secure release of pressure in the unlikely event of a malfunction, could well inform our own policy decisions about future development in the different safety zones around Koeberg.
Ensuring the safety of the people of our province is our Provincial Government's first and foremost responsibility. For that reason the Government of the Western Cape will continue to engage in a constructive manner with local and foreign role-players looking at the issues of safety, development and environmental planning.
The attention of our Provincial Government was focused on these issues by the application to develop a new Pebble-Bed Reactor at Koeberg. Following the recent security breach, a delegation of senior Cabinet members joined me on a site visit to personally inspect the safety precautions. After a subsequent briefing of the Provincial Cabinet by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) we set in motion a process to conclude appropriate co-operative agreements on the operations at Koeberg with both the NNR and the City of Cape Town. We will also engage the South African National Government on the continued and future storage of spent nuclear fuel (high level nuclear waste) at Koeberg. All of these negotiations will also be informed by our discussions with EDF.
Enquiries: Riaan Aucamp on 083-778-9923
Issued by Office of the Premier, Western Cape
27 November 2002
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