South Africa’s next nuclear power plant is expected to be up and running within the next decade, according to state-owned power utility Eskom.

The company, which operates Africa's only nuclear power plant, has set 2018 as an indicative date for when it wants the next plant to be operational, reported Engineering News Online.

Last year Eskom cancelled previously announced plans to build a new nuclear facility, citing financial constraints.

Since then the government has intervened, saying that it wants to develop a local nuclear industry in partnership with a technology firm rather than pursuing the commercial bidding process used by Eskom.

"All this is part of the government-led process: we have set indicative timelines, in line with the projected growth in electricity consumption ... but they are not cast in stone," said Fani Zulu, a spokesperson for Eskom.

Construction for the first plant could begin in July 2012, which would mean the first 4,000 MW plant would be up and running six year later, in July 2018.

Two further facilities, also with a 4,000 MW capacity, are planned to be operational by 2020 and 2022, respectively.