by Yacoob Cassim
The Tender to build a nuclear power plant in Thyspunt in the Eastern Cape was agreed between the Administration of President Jacob Zuma and the Russian supplier. Civil Society was concerned about the agreements made between both nations and the environmental impact it will have. The country is suffering from a financial crisis as well as huge levels of unemployment. The costs of accepting such an agreement will impose burdening costs on tax payers and enrich a few in the BEE. According to the non-governmental Organization Undoing Tax Abuse the cost of the deal will amount to over R3trn.
This could make South Africa financially liable to Putin’s Russia for decades to come. The environmental impact would be catastrophic. The proposed plans are to set up eight nuclear reactors at Thyspunt or near the existing nuclear station at Koeberg and will be purchased from Russia. The deal renders the people to pay for very little energy and to cause environmental radiation.
The initial costs of the deal will have South Africa borrowing R1.2 million to cover. It will take tax payers R100 million a year to pay for the undertaking. The truth is that the amount of money spent will be a waste. The state will have to cut back on much needed funding for education, healthcare, social welfare and public transport. Unless Parliament rejects the deal, it would be a scandal that will overshadow the arms deal.
Even though Minister for Energy Tina Joematt-Pettersson says the country will be pursuing a diversified energy mix policy. How does this fit in with the setting up of Nuclear reactors in Thyspunt? The minister seems to be out of tune with that. If all programmes and procedures were being followed then why did Zuma have to fire Nlhanhla Nene as Finance Minister when he was opposed to the bill? The environmental risks as regards to water and ground pollution are also high. However it will still be cheaper to afford Wind and Solar energy which are harmless.