Nelson Mandela Bay to get a nuclear power station?

Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Babalwa Lobishe has welcomed a key step forward for Eskom’s proposed 5 200-megawatt nuclear power station at Thyspunt in the Kouga Local Municipality, Eastern Cape.

Thyspunt is a rocky stretch of coast approximately 12km WNW of Cape Saint Francis. It is just west of the beach Thysbaai and south-east of Oyster Bay. The point is near the popular surfing beach of Jeffreys Bay as well as the holiday town of St Francis Bay. It lies about 18km SSW of the town of Humansdorp.

Final scoping report accepted

The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment has accepted the project’s final scoping report, allowing it to proceed to the full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) phase.

However, the decision does not amount to permission to build the nuclear power station. Further environmental assessments must still be undertaken.

Lobishe described the development as an important milestone for the Eastern Cape, saying the project could help strengthen energy security, stimulate industrial growth and create jobs.

“For too long, the Eastern Cape has been spoken about as a province of potential. A project of this scale gives us the chance to turn that potential into permanent economic strength,” she said.

Mayor highlights jobs and investment opportunities

Lobishe said Nelson Mandela Bay was well positioned to support the proposed investment, pointing to its port infrastructure, automotive and manufacturing industries, engineering expertise and Nelson Mandela University.

“Our port infrastructure, automotive and manufacturing base, engineering capability and Nelson Mandela University make the metro the natural partner for a development of this magnitude,” she said.

The mayor highlighted opportunities for local employment, skills development and business growth during the construction and operational phases.

She said she would push for local recruitment, particularly among young people in Nelson Mandela Bay and Kouga.

Local small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs) and cooperatives could also benefit from opportunities in logistics, construction, hospitality and support services.

Lobishe further identified potential partnerships with universities and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) colleges to develop engineers, artisans and technicians.

Investment in roads, water and supporting infrastructure could also benefit surrounding communities beyond the construction period.

Koeberg visit provides lessons

The announcement follows an oversight visit to Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in the Western Cape by an Eastern Cape delegation led by Premier Oscar Mabuyane.

The delegation included district leadership from Sarah Baartman, representatives of Coega, the Automotive Industry Development Centre, the Eastern Cape Socio-Economic Consultative Council and Khoi-San traditional leadership.

Lobishe said the visit provided insight into the operation of a nuclear facility, including its safety systems, environmental management, employment footprint and local procurement practices.

She also highlighted the importance of understanding the long-term relationship between a nuclear facility, nearby communities and the natural environment.

“What we saw confirmed that nuclear power can coexist with coastal communities, tourism and a healthy environment when it is properly managed,” she said.

Environmental assessments still to come

Lobishe acknowledged that the proposed Thyspunt project would require detailed studies covering wetlands, marine life, the chokka squid fishery, heritage resources, water security and community impacts.

“We welcome this scrutiny. Development that ignores the environment and the people who live alongside it is not development we want,” she said.

The mayor has urged residents, fishing communities, heritage organisations and businesses to participate in the next phase of public engagement.

She said the metro would continue engaging with Eskom, Kouga Local Municipality, other state-owned enterprises, organised business, civil society, traditional authorities and the provincial government.

Lobishe said these discussions would be important in ensuring that the potential benefits of the proposed project were shared across the region.

While the acceptance of the scoping report marks progress for the proposed nuclear power station, its future remains subject to the next stages of environmental assessment and the relevant approval processes.