• South Africa plans to add 5,000 MW of new nuclear capacity to stabilize its grid and address chronic power cuts.
• The project will be implemented in partnership with the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA).
• The Cabinet will soon approve the sites, suppliers, costs, and project timeline.

South Africa plans to launch a 5,000-megawatt (MW) nuclear program to expand domestic electricity generation and reduce power shortages, Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said on Sunday, October 12.

Ramokgopa made the announcement on the sidelines of the G20 Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Energy held in Durban. The initiative forms part of the government’s long-term plan to stabilize the national grid, which has suffered from chronic load shedding in recent years.

South Africa recorded 332 days of scheduled power cuts in 2023, up from 205 days in 2022, according to government data.

The minister said the program would be implemented with the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA), the state-owned company responsible for civil nuclear development.

Officials are finalizing site selection, technology suppliers, construction costs, and an operational timeline. The Cabinet will approve the final framework before the public announcement.

The nuclear plan aligns with South Africa’s goal of diversifying an energy mix still dominated by coal. According to the World Nuclear Association, the country produced 234.9 terawatt-hours (TWh) of electricity in 2022. Coal accounted for 197.4 TWh (84%), nuclear for 9.8 TWh (4%), and renewables for around 22–23 TWh (9–10%).

The new project will mark a milestone in South Africa’s energy policy, coming two decades after the last expansion of the Koeberg plant, the country’s only commercial nuclear facility. Located near Cape Town, Koeberg began operating in 1984 and remains the only active nuclear power station on the African continent.

With this expansion, South Africa aims to strengthen its position as a continental leader in civil nuclear technology. Other African nations, including Egypt, Ghana, and Nigeria, are also advancing nuclear energy programs.

This article  was initially published in French by Abdel-Latif Boureima

Adapted in English by Ange Jason Quenum