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China Signs Accords to Help South Africa Develop Nuclear Power
6 December 2014
EIRNS—During President Jacob Zuma’s visit to Beijing, yesterday China and South Africa signed a series of accords, including a Memorandum of Understanding, to advance South Africa’s nuclear energy industry. South Africa will soon choose the vendor that will build its new nuclear plants, and is preparing the groundwork for that expansion. According to World Nuclear News, the MoU was signed by the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) and China’s National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC) to officially establish a partnership, through which CNNC will support South Africa’s industry. A second agreement, a framework one, enables cooperation on the financing of new nuclear power plant construction in South Africa, through China’s State Nuclear Power Technology Corporation, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, and South Africa’s Standard Bank Group. And the third agreement will provide training to about 300 South African nuclear professionals, including in-service training. It will be launched in March 2015. During his visit, Zuma told a meeting of the China-South Africa Business Forum that South Africa regards the Memorandum of Understanding on nuclear cooperation "as a mechanism which will enhance mutual exchange of information, best practices, and Marsha Freeman |
