South Africa confirmed on Monday it had scrapped plans to build a series of nuclear power stations, burying one of former president Jacob Zuma’s most controversial policies. Zuma’s nuclear expansion plan was a key battleground for control over South Africa’s finances, with his opponents accusing him of seeking a deal that could have bankrupted the country to enrich his allies. Ramaphosa had said that the nuclear expansion plan was on hold, and Energy Minister Jeff Radebe on Monday announced that more nuclear power was not part of the government’s energy policy. Zuma had wanted to build eight new reactors to end South Africa’s reliance on coal. South Africa’s power demand has declined and is currently at levels last seen more than a decade ago, according to the energy department.

Source: The Guardian August 27, 2018 16:07 UTC