Eskom is pushing ahead with the plans to build two nuclear power stations by applying for site licences - despite the government's delay in releasing a request for proposals from bidding companies. The National Nuclear Regulator is in the final stages of processing Eskom's application to build nuclear plants in the Eastern Cape and the Western Cape.The cabinet announced this week that Eskom - and not the Department of Energy as originally envisaged - may take the leading role in management and implementation of the controversial project.Eskom has applied for site licences to build power plants at Thyspunt in the Eastern Cape, 80km from Port Elizabeth, and at Duynefontein in the Western Cape, near Koeberg nuclear power station.story_article_left1But communities in the affected areas have accused Eskom of "putting the cart before the horse" as no decision has been made on what type of nuclear power plant is to be built.Residents of areas around the proposed sites have, in submissions to the National Nuclear Regulator, labelled the process a sham because Eskom has not provided any information about the type of nuclear power plants it plans to build.Eskom spokesman Khulu Phasiwe said: "Since Eskom will be the owner and operator of the new power plant, the company had to identify a site or sites where the plant would be built."In submissions to the regulator, communities said they could not provide comprehensive arguments because there was no information about the type of power plant that would be built, how long it would take, what security measures would be put in place and who would fund the development needed on the periphery of the construction site.The Thyspunt Alliance, a community organisation based in the Eastern Cape, said it was opposed to a site licence being granted to Eskom. "As a community organisation we are focused on the nitty-gritty of the biggest construction site in the southern hemisphere and the impact it will have," said co-ordinator Trudi Malan.It was difficult to raise specific concerns on safety, for example, because it had not been decided what type of nuclear power plants would be built. As a result, it was not possible to assess the risks to the area, she said.block_quotes_start National Nuclear Regulator had found both licence applications to be compliant with the relevant national policies and nuclear safety regulations block_quotes_endNoPENuke spokesman Gary Koekemoer said the organisation had filed a similar submission, saying Eskom's application for the site licence was premature."They have not decided on a model yet. They have not completed the environmental impact assessment ... they are doing a generic application but it does not work for nuclear [energy].You have to be specific. You have to know if you are talking about a bicycle or a Boeing when you talk of a mode of transport," he said.Phasiwe said the National Nuclear Regulator had found both licence applications to be compliant with the relevant national policies and nuclear safety regulations."In a nutshell, Eskom as a state-owned company, is assisting the government to achieve its objective of strengthening and diversifying the country's energy mix which includes coal, nuclear, solar, wind and other forms of energy," he said.hunterq@sundaytimes.co.za..