https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

NUM calls on govt to review its ‘pro-nuclear’ stance

Koeberg nuclear power station

Koeberg nuclear power station

19th June 2014

By: Natasha Odendaal

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

  

Font size: - +

The National Union of Mineworkers (NUM) has urged government to review its stance on nuclear energy, saying nuclear was an “expensive investment [on the road] to national suicide”.

In his State of the Nation address (SoNA) on Tuesday night, President Jacob Zuma, in a move welcomed by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, gave his support to the further development of nuclear energy, along with shale gas, in a bid to ensure South Africa’s energy security.

However, following a national executive committee meeting, on Wednesday, the NUM said nuclear should be excluded from South Africa’s proposed energy mix, as the risks and dangers “far outweigh” the benefits, citing the events of the Fukushima and Chernobyl nuclear disasters.

Despite talk of energy source diversification and nuclear producing well over 9 000 MW of electricity, and its alleged benefits to the economy, the union did not support nuclear energy as part of the mooted mix for energy sustainability, general secretary Frans Baleni said.

Government was converting the National Nuclear and Energy executive coordinating committee of Cabinet into the Energy Security Cabinet subcommittee, which would be responsible for the executive oversight, coordination and direction of activities for the energy sector.

“Work needs to be done at a technical level on all forms of energy, especially nuclear energy and shale gas, with regards to funding, safety, exploitation and the local manufacture of components,” Zuma commented in his SoNA.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

Comments

Showroom

Booyco Electronics
Booyco Electronics

Booyco Electronics, South African pioneer of Proximity Detection Systems, offers safety solutions for underground and surface mining, quarrying,...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
Environmental Assurance (Pty) Ltd.
Environmental Assurance (Pty) Ltd.

ENVASS is a customer and solutions-driven environmental consultancy with established divisions, serviced by highly qualified and experienced...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







sq:0.087 0.139s - 141pq - 6rq
Subscribe Now