How SA could benefit from Russia's nuclear expansion plan

Rosatom is bidding for a stake in South Africa's nuclear build programme that officials say will add 9600 megawatts in capacity. 

The company estimates that up to 15 000 direct jobs will be created during the construction phase. 

It's responsible for the expansion of Hungary's only nuclear power plant in Paks. 

The city's mayor, Janos Suli says 60% of the nuclear power plant's employees are local residents. 

"According to experts' estimation, having been reminded that many experts come here with family, wives and kids, the overall number might reach 12 500 for example. The workers who work on the construction site will have to be accommodated somewhere here in the region," he said.  

South Africa's electricity demand expected to double by 2030 and according to the 2010 Integrated Resource Plan, nuclear is the option government is looking at to meet demand. 

The Energy Department wants to build several new nuclear power plants in a bid to generate an additional 9600 megawatts of electricity and diversify the country's energy mix which relies heavily on coal. 

Professor Aszódi Attila from the Paks Nuclear Power Plant in Hungary believes nuclear energy offers the cheapest source of base load power.

"Design and construction takes at least ten years. In that ten years, you invest money and nothing is coming back. Then you start the plant and you have to pay back all the investment. If the loan conditions are favourable, the cost of electricity will be economical," he said.

(Paks City Hall in Hungary)

(An employee of Paks Nuclear Power Plant at the Visitors' Centre)

(Left to right: Mayor Janos Suli and his interpreter)

(Photos: Khatija Nxedlana)