South Africa and Russia signed
two memoranda of understanding on nuclear power cooperation on
Wednesday, part of efforts by Africa's most advanced economy to lessen
its reliance on coal and overcome power shortages that threaten economic
growth. The
agreements, signed at the summit of emerging BRICS nations in Ufa,
Russia, are between Russia's state-run nuclear energy company Rosatom
and South Africa's department of energy. They call for joint projects to
educate and encourage "public acceptance of nuclear power" in South
Africa, the South African department of energyThey will also include programmes for training specialists in South Africa's nuclear industry.
South Africa is considering using reactors from Russia's
Rosatom and Westinghouse for its planned 9,600 megawatt nuclear fleet
expansion, an energy advisor to the government said in June.
The country plans to build six new nuclear power plants by
2030 at an estimated cost of between 400 billion rand and 1 trillion
rand ($32 bln and $80 bln).
"South Africa, Russia sign agreements on nuclear power cooperation at BRICS meeting"