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Nuclear News

Shearwater developing SMR, hydrogen project in North Wales

By: Donna Slater 15th January 2021 UK-based hybrid clean energy company Shearwater Energy is developing a wind small modular reactor (SMR) and hydrogen production hybrid energy project in North Wales. The project will provide 3 GW of zero-carbon energy and is also expected to produce over three-million kilograms of green hydrogen... →

Unplanned shut of Koeberg Unit 1 affects installation of new steam generators, raises load-shedding spectre

By: Terence Creamer 4th January 2021 Electricity utility Eskom reported on Monday that Koeberg Unit 1 would be taken offline for repairs one month ahead of scheduled maintenance after an increasing leak rate was detected from one of the unit’s three steam generators. Eskom said in a statement that the leak rate was “well within the... →

Global electricity demand to fall 2% this year, says IEA

By: Creamer Media Reporter 14th December 2020 Global electricity demand is projected to fall by about 2% this year – the biggest yearly decline since the mid-twentieth century and far larger than what followed the global financial crisis in 2008/9, which resulted in a drop in electricity demand of 0.6% in 2009, the International Energy... →

New group CEO announced for Necsa

By: Rebecca Campbell 4th December 2020 The South African Cabinet announced on Friday that, at its Wednesday virtual meeting, it had ratified the appointment of Loyiso Tyabashe as the new group CEO for the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa). He holds a MSc in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Cape Town and... →

Loyiso Tyabashe

De Ruyter calls for upscaling of power procurement plans as he questions whether coal IPP will proceed

By: Terence Creamer 24th November 2020 Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter has again called on government to open the way for the procurement of more new electricity capacity in addition to the 11 800 MW outlined in a recently gazetted Ministerial determination, cautioning that the 1 500 MW of new coal included in the determination is unlikely... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Eskom CEO Andre de Ruyter

Nersa sets Feb 5 deadline for written comment on proposed nuclear determination

By: Terence Creamer 23rd November 2020 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) has given stakeholders until February 5 to comment on a Section 34 determination received from Minerals Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe for the procurement of new nuclear capacity post-2030. The draft determination delivered to... →

Rolls-Royce signs two international agreements on small modular nuclear reactors

By: Rebecca Campbell 20th November 2020 UK-based global major industrial technology group Rolls-Royce recently signed, in rapid succession, two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) regarding the development and operation of small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plants (NPPs). Rolls-Royce is leading a consortium, supported by both... →

Britain to ban new petrol cars and vans by 2030 on road to net zero emissions

By: Reuters 18th November 2020 Britain will move up a ban on new petrol and diesel cars and vans to 2030 and is eyeing 250 000 new jobs as part of a green industrial revolution, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said as he tries to meet Britain's net zero emissions climate target. Johnson is seeking to show his government is on... →

Rolls-Royce cites jobs potential if UK government enables small modular reactor fleet

By: Rebecca Campbell 12th November 2020 UK-based global major industrial technology group Rolls-Royce stated on Wednesday that it expected to create 6 000 jobs in the midlands and north of England within five years, if the British government clearly committed itself to enabling the construction of 16 small modular nuclear reactors... →

Photo by Rolls-Royce
An artist’s impression of a UKSMR power plant

Nersa to consider nuclear-determination consultation request at upcoming meeting

By: Terence Creamer 10th November 2020 The National Energy Regulator of South Africa’s (Nersa’s) electricity subcommittee (ELS) will consider a request for consultation on concurrence with a Section 34 Ministerial determination for the procurement of 2 500 MW of nuclear capacity when it meets on Wednesday November 11. Fulltime member... →

Fulltime member of the regulator for electricity regulation Nhlanhla Gumede

Rolls-Royce signs second small modular nuclear reactor memorandum in two days

By: Rebecca Campbell 9th November 2020 Rolls-Royce, the UK-based global industrial technology group, announced on Monday that it has signed its second Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs) in two days. This second MoU is with predominantly State-owned Czech electricity utility CEZ, which is... →

UK and US groups partner on small modular nuclear reactors

By: Rebecca Campbell 9th November 2020 UK-based global major industrial technology group Rolls-Royce and giant US private-sector electricity utility Exelon have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the development and operation of small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear power plants (NPPs). Rolls-Royce is leading a... →

Photo by Rolls-Royce
Artist’s impression of a UKSMR plant

Nuclear regulator confirms early talks with Eskom to extend Koeberg nuclear plant’s life

By: Rebecca Campbell 26th October 2020 The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has confirmed that it is in preliminary talks with State-owned national electricity utility Eskom regarding extending the operating life of the country’s only nuclear power plant (NPP) at Koeberg, north of Cape Town. Currently, Koeberg is licensed by the NNR... →

University of Pretoria team come second in Brics youth energy event

By: Rebecca Campbell 22nd October 2020 A South African team took second place in the recent 2020 Brics Youth Energy Outlook event, hosted in Moscow. Brics is the acronym for the Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa alignment and the Youth Energy Outlook involves teams of young researchers submitting papers on energy and the... →

Koeberg Unit 2 returns to service

By: Chanel de Bruyn 21st October 2020 Unit 2 of the Koeberg nuclear power station on October 21 successfully completed its twenty-fourth outage since it first started to generate electricity. The unit is synchronised onto the electricity grid and will load up to full capacity by next week, power utility Eskom reports. →

Russian nuclear group joins UN corporate social responsibility initiative

By: Rebecca Campbell 8th October 2020 Russia’s State-owned nuclear group, Rosatom, has announced that it has joined the United Nations (UN) Global Compact. This is the world’s biggest corporate social responsibility and sustainable development initiative, having more than 13 000 member companies from more than 160 countries. “The... →

French nuclear group opens new facility in the US

By: Rebecca Campbell 7th October 2020 French nuclear group Framatome has announced that it has opened its new uranium recovery facility at its nuclear fuel manufacturing site at Richland in the US state of Washington. The new facility cost $20-million, took three years to build and covers 11 000 ft2 (nearly 1 022 m2). The new... →

Photo by Framatome
A general view of Framatome’s Richland plant

Koeberg’s 20-year life extension marks steam-generator milestone

By: Terence Creamer 30th September 2020 The steam generator replacement project, which is central to Eskom’s R20-billion programme to extend the 40-year design life of the Koeberg nuclear power station by a further 20 years, marked a major milestone this week with the arrival of the first units in Cape Town. The project, which was... →

The first unit being transported the 40-km distance from the Cape Town Harbour to Koeberg using abnormal-load vehicles.

Russian and African organisations sign nuclear energy agreement

By: Rebecca Campbell 23rd September 2020 Russia’s State-owned nuclear energy group Rosatom signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (Afcone) this week. The MoU, signed simultaneously in Pretoria and Moscow, provides for cooperation between the two organisations in the peace uses of nuclear... →

Mantashe confirms consultations with nuclear power vendors and replacement of SAFARI

By: Rebecca Campbell 22nd September 2020 Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe has informed the 64th session of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), via a video recording, that South Africa had started consultations with nuclear power reactor vendors, to obtain information about costs, schedules and possible... →

Nuclear organisations stage public demonstration

By: Rebecca Campbell 21st September 2020 Six organisations representing professionals in the country’s nuclear sector jointly staged a public demonstration in Pretoria on Saturday in support of nuclear technology and the expansion of the South African nuclear sector. The demonstration was carried out in full compliance with... →

Eskom expects 2021 replacement of generators at nuclear plant

By: Reuters 10th September 2020 Power utility Eskom said on Thursday it was on track to install six new steam generators at its Koeberg nuclear power plant in 2021, with the first already in transit and expected to arrive in Cape Town later this month. The R4.3-billion project, which was unsuccessfully challenged in court by... →

Rolls-Royce French unit wins Chinese nuclear contract

By: Rebecca Campbell 3rd September 2020 UK-based global industrial technology group Rolls-Royce has been awarded a multi-million euro contract to supply Neutron Flux Monitoring Systems to two nuclear reactors being built in China. The contract is from the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) and will be executed by Rolls-Royce... →

Clean coal can still play meaningful role in S Africa

By: Mamaili Mamaila 21st August 2020 Coal is relatively cheap and widely available; therefore, if it is used cleanly and efficiently, it can be a vital part of the economic development of South Africa, says the IEA Clean Coal Centre (IEACCC). →

Photo by Creamer Media
GROWTH POINT About 18 000 jobs were created during the peak of construction at Eskom’s Medupi power plant

Changes on the cards at CEF, Necsa

20th August 2020 Creamer Media's Chanel de Bruyn speaks to Engineering News Editor Terence Creamer about the restructuring and rationalisation plans for the Central Energy Fund group of companies and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation. →

Changes on the cards at CEF, Necsa (Editing: Nicholas Boyd)

Necsa poised for year-long ‘rationalisation’ as it warns of R331m loss

By: Terence Creamer 18th August 2020 The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) expects to formally initiate a year-long rationalisation of the State-owned enterprise in September, while warning of a likely R331-million loss for the current financial year. Addressing lawmakers on Tuesday chairperson David Nicholls... →

Photo by Creamer Media
Necsa chairperson David Nicholls

South Africa’s women nuclear professionals elect new president

By: Rebecca Campbell 7th August 2020 Local sectoral professional organisation Women in Nuclear South Africa (Winsa) announced on Friday the election of its new president. She is radiation protection professional Tebogo Motlhabane, a scientist with the National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute (NRWDI). She replaces Nomathemba... →

Peaceful use of nuclear tech underscores its value to Africa’s developmental needs

By: Simone Liedtke 7th August 2020 The development and peaceful use of nuclear technology could further underscore its value by helping to meet Africa’s developmental needs, says African Commission on Nuclear Energy (Afcone) executive secretary Messaoud Baaliouamer. He says the safe and peaceful use of nuclear technology has... →

SAFCEI encourages govt to reconsider its nuclear ambitions

By: Donna Slater 7th August 2020 According to the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI), the South African government should rather shift its renewed interest in building new nuclear power generation capacity to ethical, equitable and sustainable energy plans. As “South Africa faces another push for... →

Kenya on course for $5bn nuclear plant to power industry

By: Bloomberg 4th August 2020 Kenya’s nuclear agency submitted impact studies for a $5-billion power plant, and said it’s on course to build and start operating the facility in about seven years. The government plans to expand its nuclear-power capacity fourfold by 2035, the Nuclear Power and Energy Agency said in a report on... →

British govt announces funding to develop advanced modular nuclear reactors

By: Rebecca Campbell 24th July 2020 The British government announced on July 10 that it was awarding funding of £40-million for the development of advanced modular nuclear reactors (AMRs) and associated technologies. This was part of the UK’s programme to develop new and low-carbon industries and energy sources, thereby creating... →

UK announces funding for development of advanced modular nuclear reactors

By: Rebecca Campbell 13th July 2020 The British government announced on Friday that it was awarding funding of £40-million for the development of advanced modular nuclear reactors (AMRs) and associated technologies. This was part of the UK’s programme to develop new and low-carbon industries and energy sources, thereby creating... →

Shift from high- to low-carbon must be systematic and just – Mantashe

By: Terence Creamer 9th July 2020 South Africa’s Mineral Resources and Energy Minister, Gwede Mantashe, used the platform created by the International Energy Agency (IEA) Clean Energy Transitions Summit on July 9 to stress that South Africa’s shift from a high-carbon to a low-carbon path needed to be both systematic and just.... →

Photo by Creamer Media's Donna Slater
Mineral Resources and Energy Minister Gwede Mantashe

Clean energy should be at ‘core’ of Covid-19 stimulus plans – Guterres

By: Terence Creamer 9th July 2020 United Nations secretary-general António Guterres appealed to governments on Thursday to place the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy at the “core” of their Covid-19 economic recovery spending. Guterres also used the platform created by the International Energy Agency (IEA) Clean Energy... →

United Nations secretary-general António Guterres

Academy attains artisan training certification

By: Mamaili Mamaila 3rd July 2020 The Lesedi Skills Academy received its Trade Test Centre certification from the National Artisan Moderation Body, which enables the academy to perform trade testing of mechanical artisans. →

NICKY VAN DER POEL Skills development and practical experience are critical requirements that enable youth to enter the formal job market

Necsa welcomes Vilakazi's appointment as Wits vice-chancellor

By: Schalk Burger 29th June 2020 The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation has welcomed the appointment of Professor Zeblon Vilakazi as the next vice-chancellor of the University of the Witwatersrand from January 1, 2021. Vilakazi is currently the deputy vice-chancellor of research and post-graduate affairs at Wits. He will... →

Russian nuclear group proposing small modular reactors for Africa

By: Rebecca Campbell 24th June 2020 Russian State-owned nuclear group Rosatom is highlighting the potential benefits to African countries provided by small modular reactors (SMRs). The group has accumulated 400 reactor-years of experience in operating small reactors, including those onboard Russian nuclear-powered icebreakers,... →

Photo by Rosatom
The Akademik Lomonosov floating NPP, moored at Pevek in the far north of Russia’s Far East

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