Minister should clarify position on Nuclear Build Programme
1 September 2015
In today’s sitting of Parliament’s Energy Committee, the Minister of Energy, Tina Joemat-Pettersson, shamelessly contradicted herself as to the affordability of the Nuclear Build Programme, the ANC’s so-called “silver bullet” to our energy crisis.
The Minister stated that an affordability study will be undertaken as part of the procurement process, and is quoted saying that “we are committed to a thorough cost benefit analysis of nuclear energy. It is part of the procurement process. We are not going to compromise our country in any way”.
Yet just minutes later, the Minister stated that the procurement of nuclear energy, as opposed to any other form of energy, is an absolute certainty. A more stark paradox could not exist.
The Minister has put the cart before the horse. Instead of first assessing whether nuclear energy itself is the most affordable source of energy, she has unequivocally committed to nuclear over any other possibly more affordable energy source.
The Minister should clarify this contradiction immediately. To this end, I will be submitting written questions in the National Assembly to provide her with an opportunity to do so.
Her comments effectively render an affordability assessment useless, as South Africa cannot be satisfied that nuclear energy is the most cost effective acquisition.
This once again confirms the government’s approach to this nuclear deal – it is going ahead, in secret, regardless of the crippling effect its cost will have our economy.
While the Minister continued to claim “transparency” – this could not be further from the truth.
The DA is opposed to this costly secretive nuclear deal which has the real potential to destroy any prospects of future economic growth and job creation.
Until the DA can is satisfied that government is procuring the most affordable source of energy, we will not support the deal.
Statement issued by Gordon Mackay, DA Shadow Minister of Energy, September 1 2015
