Johannesburg, Mar 02, 2006 -- Business Day/All Africa Global Media

 

SA's mini nuclear reactor, the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR), now has US nuclear company Westinghouse as a 15% investor.

The move is largely a technical transaction following the UK government's decision to unbundle its troubled British Nuclear Fuels.

The fuel company held the 15% stake in the pebble bed, and when it decided last year to sell off Westinghouse, the US builder of nuclear reactors it bought in 1999, the stake went along with it.

Japanese firm Toshiba is the preferred bidder for Westinghouse.

Nevertheless, the decision by Westinghouse to keep the 15% stake is not only a vote of confidence in the pebble-bed technology, it may ultimately help government to sell the mini reactors internationally.

Westinghouse is a major player in the global nuclear power sector, having designed, built and maintained almost half of the world's nuclear power stations.

PBMR CEO Jaco Kriek said Westinghouse was ideally equipped to support the project in the construction phase and the marketing of the reactors and fuel on a global scale.

Westinghouse senior vice-president Regis Matzie said the PBMR technology offered much potential to expand nuclear energy both in electricity generation and industry.

The project aims to build a demonstration reactor next year.

However, it still needs a licence from the National Nuclear Regulator, and a second environmental impact assessment is now under way. Business Day Reporter

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