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South Africa: renewable energy growth, promise that nuclear development will be “corruption-free”

South Africa targets more renewable power, nuclear expansion to go ahead 

*Renewable energy seen contributing 17,800 MW by 2030

* Nuclear expansion process to be affordable, above board

Africa’s most industrialised country has turned to solar and wind power to diversify its energy mix and help plug electricity shortages. The first 47 renewable energy independent power producers are due to be fully operational by July.

It also hopes to install 9,600 megawatts of nuclear power in the next 15 years to address chronic electricity shortages but the cost of the project estimated at about $100 billion has raised budgetary concerns.

Tina Joemat-Pettersson reaffirmed in parliament that the planned nuclear expansion would be “corruption free”, following concerns by opposition parties over the tender process and about the affordability of the project in a country whose economic growth has stagnated.

The department of energy would issue a request for proposal to confirm market appetite for the fleet of nuclear plants and help secure commercial and financial information for the government to make a final decision, she said.

“We will only implement what our country can afford,” Joemat-Pettersson said.

Forecasts for growth in South Africa have fallen to below 1 percent for 2016 as a global commodity slump drags on and rising inflation rates curb domestic spending.

May 13, 2016 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | renewable, South Africa