Environmental assessments set to begin for proposed nuclear sites
South Africa's ambitions to construct a major new nuclear power facility capable of generating up to 5,200 MW have taken a significant step forward, with public consultation processes scheduled to commence next month. The project, outlined in the country's Integrated Resource Plan (IRP2025), is earmarked for commissioning between 2036 and 2039, as the nation confronts the unavoidable reality that its ageing fleet of coal-fired power stations cannot continue operating indefinitely.
Two coastal locations are under consideration: Thyspunt at Oyster Bay along the Eastern Cape shoreline, and Bantamsklip near Pearly Beach on the Southern Cape coast. WSP Group Africa confirmed in a stakeholder notice dated 26 March that it has been appointed by Eskom to conduct scoping and environmental impact assessments for both sites in accordance with environmental legislation. A third potential location, Duynefontein adjacent to the existing Koeberg nuclear facility north of Cape Town, already holds environmental authorisation, though earlier attempts by Eskom to develop that site were halted following legal challenges brought by environmental organisations.
Interested and affected parties have been invited to register and declare their direct or indirect business, financial, personal or other interests in the project in order to receive all related correspondence going forward. A draft environmental report is expected to be available from 1 April, with WSP set to present its findings at a series of public gatherings during April in Hermanus, Pearly Beach, Gansbaai, St. Francis Bay, Humansdorp, Oyster Bay and Jeffreys Bay. The final outcomes of the process will ultimately be submitted to Dr Willie Aucamp, the Minister of Environmental Affairs, Fisheries and Forestry, for approval.
Nuclear energy central to long-term power strategy
Under the IRP2025, new nuclear generation capacity of 1,250 MW is planned to come online annually from 2036 through to 2039, delivering a combined total of 5,200 MW. That figure represents more than double the output of Koeberg's two existing nuclear units, which together produce 1,800 MW. The Minister of Energy and Electricity has been forthright about the pivotal role nuclear power is expected to play in the country's energy future.
Beyond the initial rollout, the IRP2025 also references the possibility of eventually expanding nuclear capacity to as much as 10,000 MW, alongside efforts to restore South Africa's former capability to process nuclear fuel domestically. The government has signalled its intention to develop a dedicated industrialisation plan to support these nuclear objectives.
"There is also great interest in small, modular reactors that can be deployed individually or in sets to power especially remote communities."
While small modular reactor technology has generated considerable excitement globally, it remains commercially unavailable for the time being. Several firms, particularly in the United States, are racing to bring this technology to market, but no commercial deployment has yet been achieved.
Legal analysts at Cliffe Dekker Hofmeyr have noted that nuclear power's classification as a clean energy source works strongly in its favour. Nevertheless, the technology is not without its detractors. Significant concerns persist around the substantial capital expenditure required for conventional nuclear plants, the absence of clear financing strategies, the opportunity cost of potentially sidelining cheaper energy alternatives, and lingering uncertainty about South Africa's capacity to implement nuclear power technology at the required scale.
"The government will develop a core industrialisation plan to complement the IRP2025 in this respect."
With environmental hearings now imminent and the regulatory framework taking shape, the coming months will prove decisive in determining whether South Africa's nuclear ambitions can translate from policy documents into concrete infrastructure on the ground.
South Africa's push toward 5,200 MW of new nuclear capacity carries enormous implications for energy security, job creation, and industrial development in coastal communities near the proposed sites. Businesses dependent on reliable electricity stand to benefit from reduced load-shedding risk, while construction and operational phases could stimulate regional economies. However, unresolved questions around financing, procurement timelines, and the decommissioning of coal infrastructure mean the path from environmental assessments to functioning reactors remains uncertain and will require sustained institutional commitment.
