Request for nuclear build proposals on hold

and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor this week, that the tender for the nuclear programme will not be issued today. Consultations were going on, she said. Joemat-Pettersson told Parliament during question time to ministers in the Economics Cluster two weeks ago that the request for the proposal will be issued today.

Consultations

Radebe, however, said yesterday that the request for proposals was not likely to be issued today because of consultations that were still going on.

“I have indicated that there are consultations that are taking place. When Cabinet deliberated on this matter in December 2015, the whole issue of nuclear was to be led by the Department of Energy, now there is Eskom,” he said.

This was in reference to whether the government has taken a firm position that the Department of Energy was going to be the lead agent in the nuclear procurement programme.

This week Eskom said it would be able to be the lead agent.

Radebe also acknowledged there were court cases challenging the government. They also wanted to determine if these court cases by environmental groups would affect the nuclear build programme.

Earthlife Africa and Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute are calling on the courts to set aside the nuclear deal and the government to come clean on its full cost.

Radebe said that based on the number of consultations that have to take place, he did not think the request for proposal would be issued today.