Pretoria has called for ‘urgent resolution’
US nuclear company Westinghouse is working with the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission and South African utility Eskom to ensure there is no impact on fuel deliveries to the Koeberg nuclear station, the company told NucNet by email.
Westinghouse was responding to news that a nuclear cooperation agreement that lapsed in December had resulted in the suspension of a licence for supplies of the fuel to the two-unit Koeberg, near Cape Town.
South Africa’s Department of Mineral Resources and Energy said in an earlier statement that talks about a new pact were “ongoing and the parties have resolved to expedite the process”, adding that “there was no immediate crisis”.
While the fuel for Koeberg, South Africa’s only commercial nuclear power station, is not planned for delivery until early 2024, “urgent resolution is needed to allow Westinghouse Electric Co.” to resume supply, the department’s statement said.
It said there are many years of strong diplomatic relations between South Africa and the US. “Negotiations on a new agreement are ongoing and the parties have resolved to expedite the process, while engaging on measures to ensure continuity of cooperation during the negotiations of the new nuclear cooperations agreement.”
Westinghouse lost its licence from the NRC after an agreement for cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy between Washington and South Africa ended on 4 December.
US president Joe Biden was poised in August to extend the existing agreement, before it was allowed to expire.
