THE nuclear energy expansion programme remains central to South Africa’s future energy mix, said Energy Minister, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, on Wednesday.

“The nuclear energy expansion programme is a central feature of our future energy mix, given the need to provide base load electricity and also to meet the significant greenhouse gas emissions reduction target we have set for our country.

“We must reiterate that our vision around this programme is centred on processes that will create a nuclear industry, with the objective of catapulting South Africa into the top echelons of the knowledge economy,” said the minister when tabling the Department of Energy’s R7.5-billion budget vote in Parliament.

The department is confident that the nuclear programme will respond to the country’s job creation needs by creating employment and fighting poverty.

“It will also provide assurance to the investors for security of supply for industrial purposes. Our country once again stands at a crossroads of a nuclear new build programme procurement process, having done significant preparatory work for the deployment of at least 9 600 MW of nuclear power fleet by 2030.”

Applications to license sites where these nuclear power reactor plants might be constructed are on the coast of the Eastern and Western Cape. They were submitted to the National Nuclear Regulator in March.