14 Oct (NucNet): Areva is ready to support the development of new nuclear reactors in South Africa with its Generation III+ EPR reactor technology that is currently under construction in Finland, France and China and which has been chosen for the proposed Hinkley Point C project in the UK.
The French company, which is 86 percent owned by the state, made the comments today after the signing by the French and South African governments of an agreement for cooperation in the development of civil nuclear energy.
Areva said it has been an important supplier to the South African nuclear industry since the construction of the Koeberg nuclear power plant. In September, Areva was chosen for the replacement of the steam generators at Koeberg’s two reactors.
The agreement is also an important factor for future of nuclear new build projects in South Africa, Areva said.
No details were released about exactly what the agreement includes.
On 22 September 2014, South Africa announced it had signed an intergovernmental agreement with Russia that laid the foundations for the construction of up to eight new nuclear units.
According to South Africa’s energy department, the government has promulgated plans for 9.6 gigawatts of new nuclear capacity, but the tender process has not begun.
South Africa has two commercially operational nuclear units at Koeberg. According to the International Atomic Energy Agency, the units account for about five percent of the country’s generated electricity.
