Nuclear’s hidden costs

DEAR SIR — David Gleason is correct that the cheapest source of extra electricity now is from importing East African gas (Torque, August 21).

His argument is strengthened by the Shanduka precedent. Orders placed to build new gas-fired power stations in Mozambique could have them transmitting electricity to SA even before Medupi and Kusile are completed.

This is the cost-effective, rational choice, and should be SA’s priority.

But the Torque column needs more clarity on some of its comparisons.

The total cost of Medupi might end up as R36,500/kW. But this cannot be compared only with the “overnight costs” of atomic power stations.

We, taxpayers and consumers, must add on to the “overnight costs” of atomic power stations all the interest charges and fees, which add on a third, even before the build starts to run over schedule. Plus what the atomic industry calls “owner’s costs”, which are another significant 1%.

Last, the countries now decommissioning the first atomic power stations built in the 1950s find that total decommissioning costs appear to be up to 25% of the construction costs. Add on to that the costs of long-term storage for highlevel radioactive waste. All this is vastly more costly than Medupi and Kusile.

Also, solar power stations across our Kalahari Desert districts do not have to fear the sun is not shining.

Keith Gottschalk

Claremont