Russian bursaries fuel nuke deal suspicions
RUSSIAN state nuclear agency Rosatom – which is at the heart of an alleged shady deal to head South Africa’s nuclear roll-out – has announced a new tranche of bursaries in nuclear studies for South African students.
The first step is an online olympiad on Thursday and the top 10 participants will be shortlisted, subject to further review, for one of 10 bursaries for a bachelor’s degree majoring in nuclear studies at one of Russia’s leading universities, according to Rosatom Africa.
Asked how the offer related to Rosatom’s interest in heading South Africa’s proposed nuclear expansion, Rosatom Africa spokesman Ryan Collyer said yesterday it was part of a programme involving students across Africa.
The agency had provided bursaries for 60 African students in six years and, this year alone, it planned to offer the same number again, he said.
The bursaries for South African students related to the memorandum of understanding in July last year between Rosatom and South Africa’s Department of Energy on cooperation in training personnel for the South African nuclear power industry.
The bursaries were being offered in terms of this agreement, Collyer said.
Rosatom is linked to a court case in which the Southern African Faith Communities Environmental Institute (Safcei) and Earthlife Africa are challenging Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson and President Jacob Zuma over the government’s alleged illegal nuclear deal with Russia in 2014.
They are arguing that the deal is unconstitutional, and that it bypassed parliament and thereby any public oversight.
They also argue that it is part of a flawed approach by the government which has sought to expand nuclear energy without following due process and that the whole nuclear programme should therefore be judged illegal and set aside.
Asked about Rosatom’s position regarding South Africa’s proposed nuclear build programme, Collyer said the agency remained an interested bidder and had acknowledged Eskom’s December request for information (RFI).
Eskom chief nuclear officer Dave Nicholls said the RFI – which is intended to gather information related to recent nuclear project capacities, proposed financing solutions and localisation opportunities – would not create financial obligations on Eskom or the government.
NoPENuke spokesman Gary Koekemoer said the bursary offer appeared to be a sweetener related to Rosatom’s nuclear aspirations in South Africa.
He said it should be seen against the backdrop of the Safcei court case – which is now adjourned with the verdict pending – as well as the continued lack of a ruling on the nuclear programme environmental impact assessment.
The draft integrated resource plan, which foresees more nuclear energy would only be needed by 2037, even with a restriction on the volume of renewables allowed into the mix, was also a factor, he said.
“There is also the global decline of the nuclear industry due to build and decommissioning costs and health and environment concerns, and the rise of renewables due to falling generation costs,” he said.