This Day in History: 25 June 2003
On 25 June 2003, the South African Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism approved the construction of a prototype pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR) at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in the Western Cape. Their argument was that this was a potential solution to an emerging energy crisis in South Africa and that this technology could become a valuable export for the country.
This action drew protests from environmental groups such as Earthlife Africa, as well as other civic groups. The reason for the protest was that that the proposed extension of the nuclear industry would be very costly. The current nuclear facilities that South Africa possesses were constructed under the Apartheid regime and the real cost of the programme was never made public. This form of reactor had been experimented with by other nations and abandoned as the concept was largely unworkable as it was impossible to machine the "pebbles" to the standard that the process required. Also the graphite used in the construction of the pebbles were highly volatile in oxygen and this posed a significant risk should a breach of the reactor occur.
Another reason was that the South African nuclear industry has thus far neglected to provide adequate storage facilities for nuclear waste. The South African nuclear industry had also failed to demonstrate a minimum emergency containment plan for the existing nuclear facilities. A further reason for protest was that though the nuclear industry had marketed the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor as a prime export in terms of providing low cost energy, they had failed to demonstrate a ready market for it.
The result of these protests and a later court challenge mounted by Earthlife resulted in the plans for Pebble Bed Modular Reactor being set aside for future consideration as the court found that the necessary procedures regarding public consultation had not been followed, not did the risk inherent to the reactors outweigh the potential benefits..
Despite this victory, environmental groups in South Africa continue to put pressure on the South African Government to cease the operation of remaining conventional reactors at Velindaba, Pelindaba and Koeberg, as the arguments that pertain to the PBMR reactor plans also hold true for the other reactors.
