South Africa, to deal with crippling power blackouts, plans to add 2,500 megawatts of new nuclear generation, the government announced Tuesday.
The country has Africa’s only nuclear power station but the Koeberg plant near Cape Town is currently only working at half capacity.
The first of the new units will probably come online in 2032 or 2033, Zizamele Mbambo, the energy ministry’s deputy director general of nuclear power, told a press briefing.
He said South Africa had already asked “different vendors” for proposals.
Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said the extra 2,500MW of extra nuclear power would be “a significant milestone”.
He added that it would be part of the government’s action to “end the existential challenge that is confronting the country” over power shortages and long-term energy security.
(With input from AFP)
