South Africa has received Cabinet authorization to revive its Pebble Bed Modular Reactor program after abandoning the small modular reactor initiative in 2010, with Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa acknowledging the nation forfeited sixteen years of advancement in atomic power development. The helium-cooled technology, which consumed more than 9 billion rand before suspension, could position the country as an African leader in nuclear fuel cycle capabilities and generate thousands of engineering positions.
Environmental authorities approved construction at the Duynefontein location adjacent to Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, permitting as much as 4,000 megawatts of additional generating capacity in the Western Cape province. Regulators also extended operating permissions for Koeberg Unit 2 through 2045 following safety modernization work, ensuring the 930-megawatt reactor continues baseload electricity production.
The combined developments support national targets to incorporate 2,500 megawatts of atomic energy by 2030 while reducing coal dependency and advancing carbon neutrality objectives.
Environmental authorities approved construction at the Duynefontein location adjacent to Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, permitting as much as 4,000 megawatts of additional generating capacity in the Western Cape province. Regulators also extended operating permissions for Koeberg Unit 2 through 2045 following safety modernization work, ensuring the 930-megawatt reactor continues baseload electricity production.
The combined developments support national targets to incorporate 2,500 megawatts of atomic energy by 2030 while reducing coal dependency and advancing carbon neutrality objectives.
