Article: Govt halts Pebble Bed Modular Reactor project

[rpm]

You can view the page at http://mybroadband.co.za/vb/content.php/1069-Govt-halts-Pebble-Bed-Modular-Reactor-project

 

[rpm]

Government has decided to no longer invest in the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) project, says Public Enterprises Minister Barbara Hogan.

"Without going into too much detail right now, government, after careful deliberation, analysis and review, and mindful of the fiscal constraints in these hard economic times, has had to make a decision to no longer invest in this project," Minister Hogan told the National Assembly on Thursday.

 

[unskinnybob]

Already posted.

 

[LazyLion]

about time. This thing unfortunately turned out to be a lame duck. They should have cut it sooner. Just build a regular nuclear power plant.

 

[Grhardt]

With the plite and corruption they are finding them-self in, I don't think they will build anything

 

[news24]

This would never have happened under Mbeki's Administration

 

[battletoad]

Haven't scientists since time immemorial said PBMRs were not worth the effort? Now after 16 years they're finally pulling the plug. Wonder how much the total cost for this stillborn venture was... oh well the only positive is that we still have nuclear scientists.

From the PMBR website:

"The South African PBMR technology will become the world's first successful commercial generation IV reactor."

Wonder who it was successful for

 

[genetic]

This would never have happened under Mbeki's Administration

Eh? really?

 

[zippy]

They have really messed this up. The UK and many other western countries are building more nuclear power plants to replace ageing nuclear plants as well to replace coal fired stations. Opportunity missed.

 

[genetic]

They have really messed this up. The UK and many other western countries are building more nuclear power plants to replace ageing nuclear plants as well to replace coal fired stations. Opportunity missed.

BS. South Africa is planning to build 6 nuclear power plants. http://www.fin24.com/Business/Six-nuclear-power-stations-planned-20100908

They're just not persuing the pebble bed reactor route anymore.

 

[SyBerianWulff]

It's a real pitty that they have scrapped the PBMR route, it would have shut the mouths of those neighseyers that worry that we'll have another chenobyl on our hands. nuclear, while inheritently more dangerous than coal, is a MUCH better power generation method....

i wonder if that chap in the states managed to get his portable Hydro Fusion reactor built... thing was awesome, ran on sugar

 

[marine1]

This would never have happened under Mbeki's Administration

No you are right they would have gone ahead and some BEE deal would have been struck, making some PDI filthy rich and then at the end it wouldnt work.

 

[zippy]

BS. South Africa is planning to build 6 nuclear power plants. http://www.fin24.com/Business/Six-nuclear-power-stations-planned-20100908

They're just not persuing the pebble bed reactor route anymore.

What is BS ? I never said South Africa isnt planning to build any. My comment is related to the thread that South African PBMR technology wont be used and therefore the opportunity to export is lost.

Whose technology is South Africa going to use? and pay a lot for as well ? Probably French(EDF).

 

[scotty777]

Hmmm, the PBMR is just too expensive to fund for development now... Maybe in the few years time the government should analyze it critically again and see if it's viable, but the fact is we don't have the time nor resources to fund it.

But SA must start developing it's nuclear machine and begin to sell power to the rest of Africa (for profit, not friendship)... But for the love of god, can the government please start subsidizing technology based studies/companies... Thus far, there's a massive African brain-drain where your clever people from places like the DRC are moving to SA to study, so why not capitalize on this and say "those who study Nuclear Engineering at university will get all tuition fees paid, but must work for the Government for 5 or 6 years"

 

[BobsLawnService]

The Modular Pebble Bed Reactor was a waste of money and this project was years behind schedule and nillions over budget.

It's good tp see it cancelled.

 

[genetic]

What is BS ? I never said South Africa isnt planning to build any. My comment is related to the thread that South African PBMR technology wont be used and therefore the opportunity to export is lost.

Whose technology is South Africa going to use? and pay a lot for as well ? Probably French(EDF).

Not a missed opportunity. It was a project fulled with flaws from the word go, and it is a good thing to see this project scrapped.

 

[zippy]

Not a missed opportunity. It was a project fulled with flaws from the word go, and it is a good thing to see this project scrapped.

Of course it was a missed opportunity. The opportunity missed because the project was badly managed......