With South Africa expecting the second version of the integrated resource plan (IRP2) by the end of September, the Department of Energy (DoE) indicated on Friday that nuclear power generation would play an important role in the country's future energy mix.

"Nuclear and renewable energy technologies will all play a role in the future of the country's new energy mix, it is not an either-,or-, situation," DoE director general Nelisiswe Magubane sad at a nuclear forum, in Pretoria.

She added that the inclusion of nuclear power in the country's future power generation mix would also assist South Africa in its efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

South Africa has committed to reducing it carbon dioxide emissions by 34% below the "business as usual" level by 2025.

However, Magubane noted that it would be challenging to rebuild an industry that has been dormant for almost 30 years.

She said that the biggest concerns around nuclear power, was the lack of information and communication to the general public. "Nuclear is always being linked to big price-tags and environmental and historical disasters, in fact, its right up there with anti-abortion campaigns."

Magubane urged the industry to up its communication efforts and to assist government in forming a greater understanding of nuclear power generation to the general public.

Currently, the IRP2 process is open for stakeholder engagement until June 11. Magubane compared the IRP2 process to a "sausage machine", and said that the input from stakeholders on this process would finally determine the outcome of the plan.

"The department is being overwhelmed by input from the renewable energy sector, while the nuclear sector is silent, leaving the department alone to state the case of nuclear."

Nevertheless, Magubane emphasised that the South African government was committed to the inclusion of nuclear power in its generation mix, and also to ensuring that nuclear would not leave a negative legacy behind for future generations.

"We envisage that a special purpose vehicle would be developed to run the nuclear industry with private players leading the way. However, with regard to nuclear waste and the safety of the industry the State would still play a governing and regulatory role, taking responsibility in not leaving behind a bad legacy."

Magubane said that the State was in the process of setting up a committee and a fund to mitigate possible legacy issues. "The fund will be based on the ‘polluter pays principal', with companies actively involved in the industry contributing to mitigating finances."

Further, the department noted that Necsa had also been doing feasibility studies at the front-end of the nuclear fuel cycle to ensure security of fuel supply for nuclear build. "Having a locally produced fuel (from mining to fuel fabrication) will ensure beneficiation of the country's high natural uranium resources, and would contribute positively to our national balance payments."

The studies are nearing completion and the scale of development depends on the outcome of the IRP2 process.

"The nuclear industry is one of the most exciting fields and much needed industry expansion is necessary in the country. However, the importance of industry involvement in expanding South Africa's nuclear programme cannot be overemphasised, since it is industry that will be called upon to develop and deliver in the near future," concluded Magubane.