The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has granted State-owned national electricity utility Eskom an extension of the date by which it must supply still-outstanding information concerning a nuclear site licence application. Eskom is currently responsible for all nuclear energy generation in South Africa, owning and operating the country’s only nuclear power plant (NPP), at Koeberg (situated on the country’s west coast, not far north of Cape Town).

Eskom had submitted to the NNR an application for a licence to construct a new NPP at Thyspunt, on South Africa’s south coast, in the Eastern Cape province. This document is formally known as a Nuclear Licence Installation Site Licence.

The NRR had held public hearings on this application in August 2021 and November 2021. Thereafter, the NNR undertook a deep assessment of Eskom’s application.

“From the assessment, the NNR concluded that it could not finalise its decision due to outdated data and outstanding information connected with the application,” explained the regulator in its statement. “Eskom was informed of the outcome and elected to address the information gaps and submit the required additional information to the NNR.”

Eskom subsequently (on March 22 this year) requested that the NNR extend the submission deadline and allow it to supply the required information by March 31 next year. The NNR considered this request and has decided to approve it.