Hon House Chair, the Select Committee on Labour and Public Enterprises undertook an oversight visit to Koeberg nuclear power station. The departments overseen by the committee are those of Labour, Public Enterprises and Communications, and Eskom is one of the state-owned enterprises under the Department of Public Enterprises. The committee used the opportunity to conduct an oversight visit to Koeberg nuclear power station, which falls under the auspices of Eskom.
The station is the only nuclear power station on the entire African continent, and the two reactors at the station form the cornerstone of the South African nuclear programme. The oversight visit enabled the committee to learn more about the operations of the plant which, in turn, helped members enhance their ability to exercise their oversight function.
The committee chose to visit Koeberg as a result of a presentation on the strategic plan of the Department of Public Enterprises held on 21 April 2010. During the presentation, the committee was informed that, in respect of energy and broadband enterprises, the department intended ensuring that Eskom, among other enterprises, achieved its target by the end of the Medium-Term Expenditure Framework period. This it would do by monitoring and annually assessing its financial and operational targets, which are set in the shareholder compacts. The department would also monitor the delivery and funding of Eskom's build programme and take corrective action where necessary.
On arrival, the committee received a presentation on how electricity is generated at a nuclear power station. At the time, nuclear energy was providing approximately 16% of the world's electricity needs. The committee was informed that Eskom used various technologies to generate electricity, the combination of which is called the "plant mix". The biggest portion of Eskom's plant mix consisted of coal-fired load power stations. These power stations use coal as their energy source and operate 24 hours a day to meet the demand for electricity. As Africa's only nuclear power station, Koeberg is also a base load station, with an installed capacity of 1 930MW of power. Koeberg's total net output is 1 800MW. Eskom is constantly investigating the use of other forms of energy and renewable energy sources that can be used to expand its current plant mix.
In 2009, Koeberg celebrated 25 years of nuclear power in South Africa. The power station first supplied energy to South Africa in 1984 and has done so safely ever since. Koeberg is still the forerunner and the foundation for the future of nuclear energy. Government has declared that South Africa will see more of nuclear energy in the future. This is based on the fact that Koeberg's performance in terms of safety is of the highest standard. Koeberg prides itself on safety and the committee was informed that Koeberg had a series of lines of defence to ensure safety.
Eskom strives to minimise the impact of its operations on the environment. Continued internal and external audits are conducted to ensure compliance. Samples of fish, meat, vegetables, milk, water and grass are regularly collected from the area around Koeberg and analysed to determine any possible effects on the food chain.
The committee requested further information in regard to Koeberg's staff complement, with a clear indication of the number of women, people with disabilities and racial classification. We were encouraged by the albeit small number of women at the plant who are an encouragement to other young women to take part in mathematics and science technologies. I present this report.
Debate concluded.
Question put: That the Report be adopted.
IN FAVOUR: Eastern Cape, Free State, Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal, Limpopo, Mpumalanga, Northern Cape, North West, Western Cape.
Report accordingly adopted in accordance with section 65 of the Constitution.