Durban - A
Russian activist who blew the whistle on South Africa’s pending nuclear
marriage with the former Soviet Union believes the deal is all about power; but
not the type needed for the grid.
Vladimir Slivyak from the Russian environmental group
EcoDefense, leaked the Russian Intergovernmental Framework agreement to South
African environmental rights group Earthlife and they in turn unravelled the
two countries’ cosy nuclear relationship.
Slivyak said the drive for nuclear power had less to do with
energy and more to do with political and geopolitical power. “There is
evidence that the cost of nuclear energy per megawatt is far more costly than
renewable energy and the time to commission the plants can take up to 30 years
in some cases while renewable plants take at most two years,” said Slivyak.
Speaking at a media conference in Durban on Saturday, he
also lambasted Russia’s poor nuclear record, rampant corruption and maintained
Russia’s weakening economy meant they lacked the financial muscle to finance
nuclear build projects around the world.
Rosatom, Russia’s nuclear build company, claims to have the
green light to build 27 reactors globally.
He said while there was risk in the nuclear plant, he said
“no country in the world” has been able to “successfully” deal with nuclear
waste and its environmental consequences.
“A nuclear deal makes the recipient country reliant on the
provider for several decades, from servicings to fuel.
“Over 300 people in the past four years have been fired over
allegations of corruption in the nuclear industry in Russia. We are worried
that the corruption we have will continue in this country.”
Environmental group Groundwork’s David Hallowes said
introducing nuclear into South Africa will “bankrupt the country”.
“We are building something we do not need. Nuclear projects
also require secrecy, which is the perfect ground for corruption.”
Recently a manufacturing lobby group and Business Unity
South Africa both come out and opposed the nuclear build programme, primarily
based on the exorbitant cost and the environmental threat it could pose to
future generations.
