The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation has launched an expression of interest process aimed at “identifying capable technology partners…to advance suitable SMR technology for future deployment”.
CEO of the state-owned South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Nexa), Loyiso Tayabashe, said: “Through the Expression of Interest (EOI) process, Nexa seeks to gather detailed information on available SMR technologies, their maturity, licensing experience and readiness for deployment. Our objective is to demonstrate an SMR technology that will produce electricity, process heat and isotopes. This will enable Nexa to meet its strategic objectives of positioning South Africa To get an opportunity to assess existing capabilities and financing models at the forefront of advanced nuclear technologies.
“Our goal is to participate in the global SMR supply chain and contribute meaningfully to local nuclear industrialization planning through building local capacities for nuclear manufacturing programs.”
Nexa Chairman David Nicholls said: “The EOI serves as the first stage of a structured selection process. It pre-qualifies respondents based on alignment with South Africa's nuclear policy and experience base, technology readiness for timely deployment, financial strength for long-term delivery, commitment to intellectual property transfer and localization of skills and technology, and diversity of applications to maximize socio-economic and industrial benefits.”
The EOI document states that it will serve as a “prequalification and market-sounding process before issuing formal competitive bids”, such as a request for proposals (RFP). This will help to “assess market interest in partnering on the development of SMRs in South Africa” and “identify suitably qualified and experienced organizations and shortlist respondents with proven technical and financial position”.
The document states that the EOI will act as the first stage of a structured selection process, and “only respondents meeting the pre-qualification requirements will be invited to participate in the subsequent RFP stage”.
The pre-qualification criteria are listed as follows: alignment of the reactor design with South African nuclear policy and established experience base; Appropriate technology readiness to support successful and timely deployment; Demonstrated financial strength to maintain long-term project delivery; Commitment to intellectual property transfer and localization of skills and technology; and application diversity to maximize socio-economic and industrial benefits.
It states: “The overarching objective of this structured EOI-RFP approach is to identify and partner with an organization that demonstrates technical credibility, financial strength, policy alignment and a collaborative approach to deliver a world-class SMR demonstration plant in South Africa.”
The SMR program is in line with the South African Integrated Resource Plan published in October, which plans 5,200 MW of new nuclear capacity by 2039, with suggestions that this figure could reach 10,000 MW.
The IRG included the development of a nuclear industrialization plan to determine the minimum capacity to reach economies of scale for the entire nuclear fuel cycle value chain within the country. Demonstration of multi-purpose nuclear reactors by 2032, as the country looks to transition to nuclear power for net zero by 2050. Demonstrating feasibility is critical to implementing a successful full value chain nuclear program. The case for 10 GW nuclear depends on the economic feasibility of retrofitting nuclear fuel. cycle, using nuclear for both energy and industrial applications (non-energy).”
South Africa's future nuclear development plans also include a November decision to take the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) out of care and maintenance, further develop the technology, and transfer the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor company from Eskom to Nexa. The PBMR was a small-scale high-temperature reactor that used graphite-coated spherical uranium oxycarbide tristructural isotropic (TRISO) fuel with helium as a coolant, capable of supplying process heat as well as generating electricity. Based on well-proven German technology, South Africa had been working on the PBMR project since 1993, and PBMR Limited was established in 1999 with the intention of developing and marketing the reactor. However, in 2010 the then government formally announced its decision not to invest in the project, which was then placed under care and maintenance.