The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has given State-owned electricity provider Eskom approval to extend the period for comment on its application for a nuclear installation site licence (NISL) at Thyspunt, in the Eastern Cape, by 30 days.
Additionally, the NNR gave Eskom approval to place a notice for this site and a further proposed site – at Duynefontyn, in the Western Cape – in the national Government Gazette.
The notice outlines Eskom’s intention to construct and operate multiple nuclear installations (power reactors) and associated auxiliary nuclear installations that are of a plant type and technology not yet identified.
The notices in the national Government Gazette and Eastern Cape Provincial Gazette will be published this month. The closing date for interested and affected parties to comment on Eskom’s applications to the NNR is 30 days after publication. Eskom will communicate the final closing date when the publication dates are confirmed.
The power utility submitted the NISL applications for the two sites to the NNR on March 10, with the NNR announcing on July 28 that it had accepted the applications for further processing after completing its initial review, which found both applications to be compliant with the relevant national policies, as well as the NNR Act and associated regulations.
The first phase of the NNR’s public participation process requires Eskom – as the applicant – to inform the public and solicit comment on the NISL application. Eskom has informed persons, bodies, organisations, local authorities and municipalities who may be impacted by the granting of the NISL application on July 29.
The second phase of the process entails deeper engagement in the form of a formal public hearings process pursuant to certain provisions of the NNR Act.