NATURAL JUSTICE COMMENTARY ON THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR REGULATOR AMENDMENT BILL [B25-2023]

Natural Justice argues that nuclear energy is an economically unviable and environmentally dangerous alternative to renewable energy in South Africa. The commentary contends that the National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill encourages investment in a sector characterized by high costs, long lead times, and significant waste management risks. It specifically criticizes the extensive powers granted to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy, citing the Department's poor track record in rehabilitating abandoned mines as evidence that it cannot be trusted to manage nuclear decommissioning and waste. The authors advocate for decentralized renewable energy solutions, such as solar and wind, to address load shedding and rural energy access.

• Nuclear energy is not a viable solution for South Africa's current energy crisis or load shedding because the time from planning to operation for nuclear plants ranges between 10 to 19 years, whereas solar energy provides a more immediate and cost-effective solution for rural areas through decentralized mini-grids.
• Nuclear power is economically unviable compared to other sources; the minimum cost per megawatt hour for nuclear is $97, significantly higher than utility-scale solar ($58), combined cycle gas ($52), and wind ($31).
• The nuclear sector offers limited economic benefits to local communities, as it creates fewer jobs than renewable energy sectors and relies heavily on imported technology and expertise, meaning most jobs are temporary construction roles.
• Nuclear energy poses severe environmental risks, including the production of radioactive waste that can remain dangerous for millions of years and high water consumption, using between 1,514 and 2,725 litres per megawatt-hour.
• The National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill grants the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) final decision-making power even when the Board disagrees, which is concerning given the DMRE's failure to rehabilitate approximately 2,322 high-risk commodity mines between 2009 and 2023.
• The Bill's attempts to limit strict liability for nuclear harm are rejected on the basis of the 'polluter pays' principle, noting that in the mining industry, liability has been avoided through the frequent transfer of licenses to entities that later liquidate.

APA

Natural Justice (2023). NATURAL JUSTICE COMMENTARY ON THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR REGULATOR AMENDMENT BILL [B25-2023]. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/NATURAL-JUSTICE-COMMENTARY-ON-THE-NATIONAL-NUCLEAR-REGULATOR-AMENDMENT-BILL_.pdf

Chicago

Natural Justice. NATURAL JUSTICE COMMENTARY ON THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR REGULATOR AMENDMENT BILL [B25-2023]. 2023. https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/NATURAL-JUSTICE-COMMENTARY-ON-THE-NATIONAL-NUCLEAR-REGULATOR-AMENDMENT-BILL_.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Natural Justice |title=NATURAL JUSTICE COMMENTARY ON THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR REGULATOR AMENDMENT BILL [B25-2023] |date=13 October 2023 |url=https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/NATURAL-JUSTICE-COMMENTARY-ON-THE-NATIONAL-NUCLEAR-REGULATOR-AMENDMENT-BILL_.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{naturaljustice2023natural, author = {{Natural Justice}}, title = {{NATURAL JUSTICE COMMENTARY ON THE NATIONAL NUCLEAR REGULATOR AMENDMENT BILL [B25-2023]}}, publisher = {Natural Justice}, year = {2023}, month = oct, url = {https://naturaljustice.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/NATURAL-JUSTICE-COMMENTARY-ON-THE-NATIONAL-NUCLEAR-REGULATOR-AMENDMENT-BILL_.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }