The Sunday Times has reported that SA’s nuclear trajectory looks unstoppable, and that the cost is likely to be between R500 billion and R1 trillion.
Many people are opposed to South Africa’s nuclear plans, including the National Union of Mineworkers (NUM).
In 2014, NUM said it does not support “any temptations to employ nuclear energy as part of the solutions for sustainable energy”. “We, therefore, encourage government to take out nuclear as part of the energy mix. The risks and dangers of this element of energy far outweigh the benefits experienced by humankind.”
The union said the economy of South Africa cannot afford to build a R1-trillion nuclear plant.