SA nuclear build request for proposals unlikely on Friday

29 September 2016 - 18:45 By Bianca Capazorio

It is "unlikely" that the request for proposals for South Africa's nuclear new build programme will be issued on Friday as previously indicated by Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson. This was the view of minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe‚ who said that cabinet was still discussing the issue on Thursday.During a post-cabinet briefing‚ Radebe said‚ "I do not envisage that the request for proposals will be issued".He said there was still some "consultation" which needed to be done before the request could be issued.Joemat-Pettersson told Parliament a few weeks ago that the request for proposals on nuclear new build‚ which will give the first indication of what the government expects the scale and cost of the project to be‚ would be published on Friday.But Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor said earlier this week‚ while addressing the media in Parliament‚ that this would not be the case as government policies we not in order.Radebe said the "consultation" required could include defining who the implementing authority of the program would be‚ and whether a legal challenge to the nuclear build program which could cost the country in excess of R1 trillion - by NGOs and religious groups - could impact the request for proposals."When cabinet deliberated on this issue in December 2015‚ we decided that the Department of Energy should be the implementing authority" Radebe said. But Eskom has also emerged as a potential authority since then‚ indicating that they could potentially fund the project using built-up cash reserves.Radebe said: "My view is that the [request for proposals] won't be issued [on Friday] because that discussion hasn't been completed."Cabinet‚ meanwhile‚ has also come out strongly against moves by the SABC board to appoint former chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng into another executive position‚ and has directed Communications Minister Faith Muthambi to "urgently take steps to address this matter"."Cabinet calls on the SABC board to abide by the letter and spirit of the [Supreme Court of Appeal] SCA ruling. Attempts to subvert the SCA ruling through legally suspect interpretations border on violating the constitutional principal of legality and challenge the constitutionally assigned judicial authority of our courts‚" Radebe said.Questioned as to whether Muthambi had been given a deadline‚ Radebe said‚ "it's very urgent‚ it has to be done‚ like‚ yesterday."..

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