nuclear-news

New proof that South Africa planned a binding nuclear deal with Russia

SA planned binding nuclear deal with Russia, Business Day BY CAROL PATON, 31 MARCH 2016,  NEW proof has emerged that SA intended to sign a binding deal with Russia to buy a fleet of nuclear reactors, bypassing public finance management rules along the way.

This is contained in court papers lodged on Wednesday by the Southern African Faith Communities Environmental Initiative and Earthlife Africa in the High Court in Cape Town.

The lobby groups, which are asking the court to declare the inter-governmental agreements on nuclear energy signed in 2014 unlawful, secured the new information through court processes that compelled the government to provide the record of decisions on the deal.

Among the records provided is an explanatory memorandum drafted by the state law adviser in November 2013 on the draft Russian deal, which makes clear — they say — that the deal was “intended” and was “understood as creating a firm commitment that Russia would construct the required nuclear plants in SA”.

The state law adviser’s memo has been long sought by the media and opponents of the forthcoming nuclear procurement as it was widely rumoured at the time that the office had given a strong warning that the proposed agreement was binding in nature, had budgetary implications and had to be debated publicly before it could be adopted.

Asked at the time to comment, chief state law adviser Enver Daniels refused, citing client confidentiality……..http://www.bdlive.co.za/business/energy/2016/03/31/sa-planned-binding-nuclear-deal-with-russia

April 1, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | secrets,lies and civil liberties, South Africa