Mineral Resources and Energy Department doesn’t expect any nuclear building project to start before 2034

The Department of Mineral Resources and Energy says it doesn’t expect any nuclear building project to begin before 2034.

Despite being contentious in the past, the new draft Integrated Resources Plan (IRP) makes provision for nuclear energy.

On Thursday, the department held a second round of public consultations with industry professionals on the country’s dire power needs to 2030.

The department’s Horizon 2 scenario for 2050 includes adding more nuclear power to the country’s energy mix.

But while the department expects to issue a request for proposals for 2,500 megawatts of nuclear capacity within the next few months, it doesn’t expect a power station to be built for at least another decade.

“This nuclear programme will assist us late and is not being rolled out fast enough like what the system would require,” said chief energy planner Sonwabo Damba.

While the country will be relying on renewable energy sources and gas to boost the current constrained supply, Damba said gas projects would also take time.

“The problem with it, it’s coming too late. You will only see this impact from 2028.”

The department said major new building projects are only expected between 2031 and 2050.

-EWN

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