Russia and South Africa have struck up a multibillion-dollar nuclear energy deal that will involve nuclear-power cooperation and the development of reactors stemming from Russian technology.
The deal was finalized at an International Atomic Energy Agency conference in Vienna on September 22.
Sergei Kiriyenko, director-general of Russia’s nuclear energy corporation Rosatom, claims South Africa will be awarded eight nuclear reactors as a result of the partnership by 2023 in addition to Russia helping building infrastructure in the country.
South Africa’s goal is “to implement our ambitious plans for the creation by 2030 of 9.6 GW [gigawatts] of new nuclear capacities based on modern and safe technologies,” according to Joemat-Pettersson.
This deal will certainly help expedite that process and is a major step towards attaining South Africa’s lofty goal.
Currently, South Africa houses merely one nuclear power station, something that will change moving forward.
