South Africa: Tentative start to nuclear procurement

Eskom released a 16-page request for information (RfI) for the nuclear newbuild procurement programme on 21 December. The RfI was issued in place of the substantially more detailed request for proposals mooted by acting chief executive Matshela Koko. Eskom, alongside the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, took over responsibility for nuclear procurement from the Department of Energy (DoE) after energy minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson amended a 2013 determination in December. The document has been interpreted by many in the industry as an attempt to save face at Eskom and the DoE. Both had promised that something would be released by year-end to inform the design of the procurement programme.