The role of nuclear energy in the supply of electricity in South Africa

It can be shown that if two-thirds of the total extractable coal reserves of South Africa, estimated at 57 000 million tons, is reserved for electricity generation, the last coal-fired power station will be commissioned in the year 2035 if no other resource becomes available for electricity generation. Uranium, being the only proven alternative for coal, will therefore have to play an increasing role in the supply of electricity in the next century. Projections based on an assumed electricity demand growth rate of 5% until 1995, 4% after 1995, decreasing to zero growth at 2080, show that fast breeder reactors will also have to be commissioned by the year 2025, gradually replacing thermal reactors and coal-fired power stations. 3 refs., 4 figs