Archive for date: May 20th, 2025

South Africa was lifting its Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) out of care and maintenance, Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosienstsho Ramokgopa confirmed, almost in passing, on Tuesday. He was delivering the keynote address at the Enlit Africa 2025 conference, at the Cape Town International Convention Centre. The PBMR was a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR). It was being developed by South Africa from 1994 (although the preliminary work predated that year) to 2009, when it was effectively terminated, through being reduced to a care and maintenance status. The scientists and engineers who had worked on the project scattered to the winds, with anecdotal reports indicating that at least some of them emigrated, to work on other countries’ nuclear projects, although others did remain in South Africa.

Africa, including South Africa, had to be able to fulfil its developmental potential. So highlighted South African Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa in his keynote address on the first day of the Enlit Africa 2025 conference, being held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre, on Tuesday. The continent had to be allowed to achieve the development it desired, he affirmed. Africa had to be able to fulfil its potential. Looking at Africa’s resources, these had to be exploited in a shared and mutually beneficial way. Africa had the resources; indeed, the continent was already a major producer of critical minerals. But the developed world had the money.