Jacob Maroga, CE of South African state-owned electricity producer Eskom, told the Coaltrans coal conference in early September that the utility has reached capacity limits and that nuclear energy would form a significant component of its future energy production. Eskom aims to double its output by 2025.

Coal-driven power plants have made South Africa the world’s lowest-cost electricity; but with coal’s massive contribution to global warming there was a need to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.

Eskom intends its electricity output to climb to 80 000MW by 2025. This includes an additional 20 000MW of nuclear-sourced energy and greater renewable capacity. Coal use would fall from a current 86% to less than 70% by that date. Koeberg, South Africa’s only nuclear power station currently supplies around 6% of the country’s electricity needs.

Eskom aims to expand by 4% annually, in line with the projected 6% growth in South African GDP. Thus far, Eskom has outlined a R150-billion programme of expenditure for 2007 to 2011.