ROSATOM offers South Africa to build the entire process chain of NPP construction and operation and is ready to invite South African companies to third country markets, ROSATOM Director General Sergey Kirienko stated at the forum ATOMEX-Africa.
“Today we have a good cooperation with South Africa, in particular, in the field of medical isotopes, and we consider expansion of the cooperation with South Africa with interest, given the RSA’s plans of building 9.6 GW of new nuclear power capacities. We are ready to provide the partners with technologies featuring post-Fukushima safety systems. On the whole, we offer not only to build NPPs in South Africa but also to structure the entire high-technology chain,” he said.
Kirienko reminded, South Africa has nuclear technology and good profile in the nuclear sphere. According to Kirienko, the cooperation with South Africa may develop also in the sphere of training of specialists, their education in Russia and the RSA, as well as in establishment of scientific centers. “A small-scale analysis says that implementation of a NPP construction project will allow placing 40% up to 60% of equipment orders with the RSA companies, and this will give not less than USD 16 Billion at the stage of construction only, USD 40 billion at the stage of operation; 15,000 up to 30,000 high-skill highly salaries jobs will be created. In the framework of our partnership we will be happy to invite RSA’s companies to the third country markets,” he said, reminding that one job at the NPP construction site created about 7-10 jobs in related industries.
Kirienko pointed out that today many world countries, which are capable of maintaining their energy mix without nuclear power, keep their NPPs, consider possibilities of expansion, or even construction of new NPPs. Russia and South Africa are working on a number of specific agreements concerning nuclear power, according to Kirienko.
On his part, Minister of Energy of the RSA Benedict Martins noted that his country was sticking to the plans of the energy mix development using various sources of energy, which include renewables (24%) and nuclear (60%).
The strategic partnership implies joint implementation of the national nuclear power development program of South Africa. The key project is construction of new NPPs with the Russian reactors VVER totaling 9.6 GW (up to 8 power units) in South Africa. Besides, the parties intend to build a research reactor to the Russian technology, which would lay the basis for joint business in the area of isotope production and sales in the international market. Russia will also assist to the South African partners in development of the national industry and specialist pool for the massive nuclear power development program, as well as in enhancement of the national legislation, development of related infrastructure and in some other related areas.
In addition, at the forum ATOMEX-Africa, the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA), the United Company NIAEP-ASE and NUKEM Technologies GmbH (Germany, 100%-owned by Atomstroyexport) signed a Memorandum of Understanding. The parties agreed to develop the strategic partnership in the field of engineering, design, procurement and construction of complex facilities and structures.
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The new national long-term energy development plan adopted by the RSA leadership in 2011 provides for building of up to 40 GW generating capacities, of which 9.6 GW fall with nuclear, until 2030.