Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says nuclear power must play a central role in efforts to electrify Africa, arguing that it offers reliable baseload energy for a continent where more than 600 million people remain without access. He confirmed today that Koeberg’s second unit has received a 20 year licence extension, securing its operation into the 2040s.

Ramokgopa linked the decision to South Africa’s broader nuclear expansion under the Integrated Resource Plan, which targets 5 200 megawatts of new nuclear capacity by 2039. He said technologies such as small modular reactors will support industrialisation, while critics warned about costs and safety risks.