Pebble power part 2
SA has two initiatives to develop small-scale nuclear reactors, including the possible revival of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor project that was abandoned in 2010 after years of development
To those critics who argue that nuclear power is too costly and inflexible for a fast-changing, decentralising energy world, scientists are working on a solution: small-scale nuclear reactors of 300MW or less. Many South Africans will remember the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) project, which was abandoned seven years ago after 11 years and about R9bn was spent on designing a high-temperature, gas-cooled reactor, using uranium as fuel. The reasons for halting the project were given as cost overruns, missed deadlines and lack of an anchor customer. The suspension of the project put about 800 highly qualified scientists out of work. Many of them left the country. It also limited SA’s nuclear options to the kind of costly, large-scale programme of 9,600MW that government is currently driving forwards despite considerable negative public sentiment.
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