NATIONAL NEWS - Details of South Africa's planned nuclear programme are expected to be revealed at a conference in KwaZulu-Natal today.
The Department of Energy, together with state-owned-entities involved in the country's nuclear programme, will hold a briefing on the controversial matter at Zimbali Lodge on the province's north coast - following the submission of inter-governmental framework agreements on nuclear co-operation to parliament.
The government took a decision to expand its nuclear power building programme in line with its integrated resource plan and the Department of Energy has confirmed that the "pre-procurement" process was finalised in March.
A furore erupted last year when allegations surfaced that President Jacob Zuma had taken control of the R1-trillion nuclear deal that had been negotiated with Russian President Vladimir Putin and had instructed Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson to sign it.
The government dismissed the reports at the time, but last week Rosatom, the Russian state atomic energy corporation, let it be known that it believed it was a very strong candidate to land the contract to build eight nuclear reactors for South Africa.
The government took a decision to expand its nuclear power building programme in line with its integrated resource plan and the Department of Energy has confirmed that the "pre-procurement" process was finalised in March.
A furore erupted last year when allegations surfaced that President Jacob Zuma had taken control of the R1-trillion nuclear deal that had been negotiated with Russian President Vladimir Putin and had instructed Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson to sign it.
The government dismissed the reports at the time, but last week Rosatom, the Russian state atomic energy corporation, let it be known that it believed it was a very strong candidate to land the contract to build eight nuclear reactors for South Africa.
