South African court rules against nuclear power plan

The South African High Court on Wednesday set aside the country’s nuclear deal with Russia.

The High Court judge, Lee Bozalek set aside all proposed nuclear deals, declaring them unlawful and unconstitutional.

The judge also declared the cooperation agreements with the US‚ Russia and Korea to be unconditional and unlawful.

“The minister’s decision on or about 10 June 2015 to table the Russian IGA before parliament… is unconstitutional and unlawful and it is reviewed and set aside,” he said.

In late 2014, then energy minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson signed an Intergovernmental Agreement, with Russia state nuclear company Rosatom, saying the countries would cooperate in reactors with total installed capacity of up to 9,600 MW.

The case was brought by Earthlife Africa and the Southern African Faith Communties’ Environment Institute against the government in October 2015.

The draft 2016 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) says SA will not need new nuclear power plants before 2037.

It was not immediately clear whether the government would appeal the ruling.