- Eskom is open to rolling out small modular nuclear reactors at old coal power plants, says an executive.
- Work is under way to conduct environmental impact assessments at potential sites, as well as partnering with South African Nuclear Energy Corporation for testing.
- CEO Dan Marokane says Eskom will engage with funders on decisions to delay the decommissioning of coal plants in June and July.
- For climate change news and analysis, go to News24 Climate Future.
Eskom is investigating rolling out small modular nuclear reactors at old coal power stations as they reach their end of their life, said group executive for generation, Bheki Nxumalo.
Nxumalo made the remarks during a panel discussion at energy conference Enlit Africa, taking place in Cape Town this week.
"In partnership with Necsa [SA Nuclear Energy Corporation], we are looking at rolling out those ones [small modular reactors] where we are closing coal plants," Nxumalo confirmed to News24 after the panel.
The inclusion of nuclear is part of the power utility's plans to transition to cleaner generation technologies to help it reduce emissions. It is also aligned with the country's energy policy to procure 2 500MW of new nuclear power.
The country's existing nuclear power plant, Koeberg in the Western Cape, has two units with a combined capacity of 1 800MW. Eskom is still in the process of acquiring a licence to continue running Koeberg for another 20 years. The National Nuclear Regulator, which is assessing Eskom's application, recently finished a round of public consultations as it considers the licence extension.
Small modular reactors, however, are not yet commercially viable. Even though it is "still a new technology across the globe" it is an option Eskom is considering, Nxumalo said.
READ |Tshwane won't rule out nuclear as it works to beef up independent power
Long-term plan
Eskom has partnered with Necsa to test units. Work is under way to conduct environmental impact assessments at coal plants to determine their suitability so that areas can be zoned for this purpose.
It is, however, a long-term plan. "By 2030, somewhere there, these reactors should start coming into the fleet," Nxumalo said during the panel discussion.
Mandy Rambharos, former head of Eskom's just transition office, believes that opting for nuclear, when more affordable renewable technologies are available, does not make financial sense.
Rambharos, who is now VP for global climate cooperation markets at the Environmental Defence Fund in the US, shared that while she supports nuclear as a clean energy technology, it is still really expensive to invest in.
"Why would we invest in something like that when we have so [many] solar resources? We have great energy storage solutions, which so many people are coming up with in South Africa," said Rambharos.
Investors are already interested in funding renewable energy and storage solutions, which are commercially viable, she added.
Coal decommissioning
Eskom's board recently approved the decision to delay decommissioning of Mpumalanga power stations Grootvlei, Hendrina and Camden power stations until 2030, in the interests of energy security.
Speaking on the matter, CEO Dan Marokane said that "tactical changes" had to be made to Eskom's 2025 strategy, especially when it came to reducing emissions. The continued operations of coal power stations emanate from the need to address the energy crisis - by ensuring the performance of the coal fleet improves amid the wait for renewable energy projects to come on-stream.
"As a country, we said we will approach this in a considered manner ... We will continue some of our coal operations that were earmarked for shut down," said Marokane.
He noted that concerns have been raised about the strategy and whether it would affect the commitments government has made to addressing climate change, as well as the funding earmarked for this purpose.
South Africa in 2021 joined the Just Energy Transition Partnership with the UK, US, Germany, France and Germany - securing $8.5 billion in pledges to finance the decommissioning of coal power stations and roll out renewables to lower emissions in the energy sector.
The pact is a world first, and nations like Vietnam, Indonesia and Senegal have since formed JETPs with rich nations.
Last year, Denmark and the Netherlands joined the South African JETP, bringing pledges to $11.6 billion.
According to Marokane, discussions were held with funders who understood South Africa's predicament.
"We have spoken to them and engaged everybody and explained the rationale and need for a tactical course adjustment, and they have all understood this," said Marokane. He said that follow-up conversations would be held in June and July, where Eskom would have to demonstrate the progress made in its commitments.
"The commitment to the end goal remains. How we get there needs some cost adjustments, and that is what we are dealing with," he said.
READ |Eskom board approves delay in decommissioning three power stations till 2030
Rambharos, who played an instrumental role in Eskom securing climate finance for its just energy transition plan during Andr De Ruyter's tenure as CEO, argued that if renewable energy plants had been built sooner, this would have spared the country a lot of load shedding.
As it is, renewables are making significant contributions to energy supply, Eskom's System operator Isabel Fick said during a separate panel. "We have on occasion had an actual contribution of more 21% of PV to our national grid," said Fick.
'It makes no sense'
As for Eskom's plans to delay the decommissioning of Hendrina, Camden and Grootvlei, Rambharos said that South Africa should be worried about losing out on climate funding.
By contrast, extending the life of power stations requires that they be refurbished and also include technologies to reduce emissions - the cost of which will run into billions.
"From an economic perspective, environmental perspective and social perspective - it makes no sense," said Rambharos.
Eskom has not finalised the new decommissioning schedule and is still determining the costs involved.
