THE Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) says that the lapsed nuclear cooperation agreement between South Africa and the United States poses no immediate crisis for the country.
South Africa and the US signed a Nuclear Cooperation Agreement on the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy in 1995, which came into effect on 4 December 1997 for a period of 25 years.
The agreement expired on 4 December 2022, causing some panic among South Africans and raising questions about whether or not the country’s only nuclear power station – Koeberg – would be able to run without Eskom being able to secure fuel.
The Koeberg Nuclear Power Station is currently operating at half capacity after its first unit was pulled offline in December for maintenance. The station is currently the most reliable energy producer in Eskom’s fleet and is having its lifespan extended by 20 years.
Koeberg unit 1 being
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