Cabinet makes Necsa responsible for new research reactor and fuel cycle

The South African government has decided that the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) will be the owner/operator of the planned new Multi-Purpose Reactor (MPR) and the proposed future nuclear fuel cycle. National electricity utility Eskom will be the owner/operator of the planned fleet of new nuclear power plants (NPPs). These decisions were taken during the Cabinet meeting held on November 2. These decisions alter a previous Cabinet decision, taken on June 10 last year, that made Necsa the procurement agency for the new NPPs. At that time, this decision was taken in order to free Eskom to focus on its troubled Medupi and Kusile coal-fired power stations and Ingula pumped storage hydroelectric power station. Now, Eskom regains responsibility for the new NPPs. Policy setting and coordination of the new nuclear programme will be the responsibility of the Department of Energy.