Cabinet this week officially approved the lifting of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) nuclear technology from care and maintenance since its placement in 2010, and transferring the assets from Eskom to Necsa.
“The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) welcomes the decision by Cabinet to lift the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) out of care and maintenance and transferring the asset from Eskom to Necsa. This milestone marks a significant step in restoring South Africa’s advanced nuclear technology and reactivating one of the country’s most strategic scientific and industrial assets,” Necsa said.
At a press briefing of the Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, Necsa Group CEO, Mr Loyiso Tyabashe welcomed this step saying, “The transfer of PBMR to Necsa and taking it out of care and maintenance aligns with South Africa’s broader nuclear strategy for energy security and sovereignty, achievement of net zero objectives, and expanding the use of nuclear technology for impactful reasons beyond power. Nuclear energy remains central to achieving a low-carbon, sustainable energy mix that supports industrial growth and job creation. Necsa is ready to utilise the technology to produce nuclear fuel and engage strategic partners for the development of the technology and intellectual property.”
The PBMR project, which was placed under care and maintenance in 2010, represented South Africa’s pioneering effort in developing a small modular reactor (SMR) high-temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR) technology. The recent global surge in exploration of nuclear power especially small modular reactors (SMRs) for various applications augers well for the revival of the PBMR technology. South Africa will once again be at the forefront of research to take SMRs into the future where they support smaller grids, big energy and process heat users.
“Necsa embraces the new era of reactivating the entire nuclear fuel cycle and is committed to ensuring that the PBMR project not only advances national energy and industrial goals but also strengthens regional and global cooperation in the development of next-generation nuclear technologies.”
Minister of Energy and Electricity, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, says Cabinet’s decision to lift the state of care maintenance of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor will place South Africa back to its “rightful place” at the forefront of nuclear technology.“South Africa is going back to its rightful place as a major player on the nuclear fuel cycle and we are confident that over a period of time, we’ll be a dominant and indispensable player on the nuclear side,” he said.
The decision allows South Africa to participate in the nuclear fuel cycle which will have both domestic and commercial opportunities. “It means we can reopen the fuel development laboratories to undertake research and development. There are also commercial opportunities. There’s over 80% of [Small Modular Reactors] that are at differing stages of development. “We know that it’s only one country that is a supplier of this fuel. Globally, with the exponential rise of SMRs (Small Modular Reactors). With the introduction of the work that we are doing, we are going to be another player in that space,” Ramokgopa said.