ESCOM announces its decision to order two nuclear power reactors from France

On 29 May 1976, the South African Electricity Supply Commission (ESKOM) announced its decision to order two nuclear power reactors from France. These reactors were supplied by the French company Framatome. This came after the initial consortium led by General Electric, that won the contract, had to withdraw due to political pressure due to the Apartheid policies of the South African State. The Apartheid government claimed that they were developing a nuclear industry for civilian purposes such as nuclear medicine, as well as generating electricity. The true purpose of the South African nuclear programme was to produce nuclear arms in order to prevent a Soviet invasion of South Africa. This programme, which included the setting up of nuclear research facilities at Velindaba and Pelinda was eventually successful in producing six nuclear weapons. The two reactors, ordered from France in 1976 were installed at the Koeberg power station, the only nuclear power station in Africa. This site was attacked by African National Congress (ANC) cadres in 1982, and severely damaged.