CANE - Coalition Against Nuclear Energy South Africa

By: Matthew Hill
Published: 7 Sep 07 - 10:06
South Africa’s nuclear research and development body, the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa), has invited tenders for companies to supply it with coal.

Strange as it may sound at surface value, given that this is a nuclear corporation, Necsa’s need for coal is explained by the steam-producing boilers that it uses to supply its factories, in Pelindaba, near Hartebeestport dam.

Procurement head Johan Deetleefs said that Necsa consumed, on average, 230 t of coal a month.

The closing date for tenders was September 17.

South Africa is embarking on a nuclear drive, which could see five new nuclear power stations built in the next twenty years.

The country’s only existing nuclear power station is at Koeburg, near Cape Town, which has two reactors.