Russia and South Africa signed the agreement on strategic partnership in nuclear energy

Forum Contacts RSS		RUSSIAN

Communications Department of ROSATOM, PUBLISHED 27.09.2014

On September 22, 2014 in Vienna, at the margins of 58th session of the International Atomic Energy Agency General Conference, the Russian Federation and the Republic of South Africa signed an Intergovernmental Agreement on Strategic Partnership and Cooperation in Nuclear Energy and Industry. On behalf of the Russian Government the document was signed by the Director General of State Corporation "Rosatom" Mr. Sergey Kirienko, on behalf of the South-African Government - by the Minister of Energy Ms. Tina Joemat-Pettersson.

The Agreement lays the foundation for the large-scale nuclear power plants (NPP) procurement and development programme of South Africa based on the construction in RSA of new nuclear power plants with Russian VVER reactors with total installed capacity of up to 9,6 GW (up to 8 NPP units). These will be the first NPPs based on the Russian technology to be built on the African continent. The signed Agreement, besides the actual joint construction of NPPs, provides for comprehensive collaboration in other areas of nuclear power industry, including construction of a Russian-technology based multipurpose research reactor, assistance in the development of South-African nuclear infrastructure, education of South African nuclear specialists in Russian universities and other areas.

The joint implementation of this programme implies a broad localization of equipment for the new NPPs, which will provide for brand-new development of various areas of South-African high-tech industries, contribute to creation of new highly skilled workforce and will allow South-African companies to further participate in Rosatom's projects in third countries.

"I am convinced in cooperation with Russia, South Africa will gain all necessary competencies for the implementation of this large-scale national nuclear energy development programme. Rosatom seeks to create in South Africa a full-scale nuclear cluster of a world leader's level - from the front-end of nuclear fuel cycle up to engineering and power equipment manufacturing. In future this will allow to implement joint nuclear power projects in Africa and third countries. But from the very start this cooperation will be guided at providing the conditions for creation of thousands of new jobs and placing of a considerable order to local industrial enterprises worth at least 10 billion US dollars", Rosatom's Director General Mr. Sergey Kirienko noticed.

According to Ms. Tina Joemat-Pettersson, "South Africa today, as never before, is interested in the massive development of nuclear power, which is an important driver for the national economy growth. I am sure that cooperation with Russia will allow us to implement our ambitious plans for the creation by 2030 of 9,6 GW of new nuclear capacities based on modern and safe technologies. This agreement opens up the door for South Africa to access Russian technologies, funding, infrastructure, and provides a proper and solid platform for future extensive collaboration."

Topics: Russia, Africa, South Africa

Other news:

Finnish Government Approves Rosatom Nuclear Reactor Project

Ten ministers voted in favor of granting the application, while seven ministers voted against.

Prime Minister: Finland to Continue Nuclear Cooperation With Russia Despite Sanctions

If we look at Rosatom's activities, there have been no problems whatsoever.

Russian Nuclear Experts Present Bushehr-2 NPP Project in Iran

Several Russian companies, including OKB Gidropress and Atomstroyexport participated in the seminar.

Hero of the day

The ISTC Responsible Science Program and Subprogram Culture of Nuclear Nonproliferation

The dual-use nature of nuclear technology consisting in the potential for its application equally in peaceful and military sphere is the basic contradiction for the existing nuclear nonproliferation regime and comprehensive development of the nuclear power and nuclear fuel cycle.

INTERVIEW

Jerry Hopwood
We are currently working with the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority (NDA) on this approach, which was submitted in response to their February 2012 call for alternative proposals. We appreciate that the UK is in the early stages of their policy development activities and are pleased to be involved in such important work.

OPINION

Joint Plan of Action
The goal for these negotiations is to reach a mutually-agreed long-term comprehensive solution that would ensure Iran's nuclear programme will be exclusively peaceful. Iran reaffirms that under no circumstances will Iran ever seek or develop any nuclear weapons.