The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation on Wednesday welcomed the revitalisation of the nuclear energy sector.
"Nuclear energy will provide base-load electricity. It will allow our country to lower its carbon footprint and meet its international obligations," Necsa CEO Phumzile Tshelane said.
In his State of the Nation address on Tuesday, President Jacob Zuma signalled that government planned to push ahead both with nuclear energy generation and shale gas exploration.
Tshelane said Zuma's pronouncements on energy were aimed at revitalising the South African economy.
"The expansion of nuclear energy should therefore also be seen as a part of the broader process of industrialisation in South Africa," he said.
Tshelane said Necsa would contribute to the localisation of the nuclear build programme in line with Zuma's wishes.