Is nuclear power the key to independent energy in South Africa?

South Africa’s low power margin is no secret. However, despite of the stigmatisation of nuclear energy as a concept, the country could benefit from boosting its nuclear program.

Image Source: Reuters/Siphiwe Sibeko

Consider for starters, more efficient generation of electricity. In December 2014, citizens found themselves in rolling blackouts for 15 days due to the low energy reserves in South Africa. During that time, Eskom, the largest coal electricity provider in Africa, declared a power emergency. The action invoked an agreement previously made in 2008 that required consumers to reduce their consumption by 10%. It is worth noting that Eskom accounts for 95% of South Africa’s power and 45% of Africa’s power due to unstable coal supplies, leaving the remaining 5% to be derived from nuclear power reactors.

Fortunately, stalled plans to shift to nuclear power in spite of long standing discussions from earlier finally saw light with the recent power emergency. In December 2014, the South African government announced that it would move forward with the slated nuclear plant in the midst of the power restrictions placed on consumers.

Second, the environment. South Africa is the sixth largest producer of coal in the world, and nuclear production could greatly diminish the country’s greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, the use of nuclear energy is an issue that merits concern. Would the use of nuclear energy perhaps fuel an ambition for acquiring nuclear weapons over and above putting several citizens at high risk? For the opponents and critics of nuclear energy, one look at case-studies such as Chernobyl, Three-Mile-Island, or the 2011 Fukushima disaster reinforces prejudice. However, new technology reduces the risks of meltdowns, and if extensive planning is put into the placement of facilities (especially their location in relation to coastal areas or fault lines) meltdown risks should be kept to a minimum.

Image Source: CNN

Third, and most importantly, the economy. Nuclear Energy could, in the long run, reduce dependency on foreign commodities with drastically fluctuating market values. A recent drop in the price of oil has had both positive and negative consequences. Countries such as Syria, Libya, and Iran are seeing a decline in their economies due to the low cost per barrel. Contrarily, the U.S. and Canadian economies respectively are seeing an influx due to cheaper international gas. Despite the overarching trend of rising electricity prices for the energy providers over the past thirty years, direct energy providers in the U.S. and Canada are now capable of offering services at a more affordable cost.

In conclusion, countries like South Africa should take cues from North America, in terms of measuring tangible economic benefits of energy independence. However — keen oversight and compliance with international non-proliferation treaties will become imperative in the country’s race for economic independence to begin with.