Algeria interested in SA's PBMR

I-Net Bridge | Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:35
[miningmx.com] -- South Africa's Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) company on Monday said Algeria, the second largest country in Africa, was exploring the possibility of building nuclear reactors the size of PBMR near inland villages to provide electricity and desalination.

"Other areas of possible strategic partnerships are in the field of capacity building and skills development, training, experimental facilities using a PBMR reactor, nuclear safety and the supply of purified helium for PBMR," the company said in a statement.

A high-level delegation under the leadership of the Algerian Atomic Energy Commission (Comena) is in South Africa to actively pursue involvement in the field of nuclear, including PBMR technology.

Comena chairperson Mohamed Derdour said Algeria was seriously pursuing nuclear technology as a means to diversity its energy sources and as a vehicle to reduce its dependency on a hydrocarbons economy.

"We plan to build 1,000 MWe of nuclear capacity by 2022 and 2400 MWe by 2027. Since this power is needed for both electricity generation and desalination, the pebble bed technology seems to be an extremely attractive option," Derdour said.

He pointed out that Algeria, like South Africa, has signed the Nuclear Non- proliferation Treaty.

"Algeria has atomic energy agreements with Argentina, China, France and the US. We also have two research reactors, which were built by Argentina and China respectively," he added.

According to PBMR CEO Jaco Kriek, Algeria's interest in the PBMR technology opens a real opportunity for two African countries to cooperate on nuclear.

"South Africa has a long relationship with Algeria, including the signing in 2003 of a Memo Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in the field of nuclear and radiation sciences between Comena and South Africa's Department of Science and Technology," Kriek said.

"We believe the PBMR technology is ideal for a country such as Algeria with its need for clean water. We would therefore very much welcome Comena's involvement in the PBMR Company," he added.

Algeria's visit suggests renewed interest in the PBMR, which last week signed an agreement with Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) to study possible collaboration in the design of PBMR's 200 MWt (megawatts thermal) plant.

While the memorandum of understanding covers initial collaboration in the design of the plant, MHI said the two companies would also consider further collaboration, including construction of plants and market exploration.

"With the newly concluded memorandum of understanding, PBMR development will now move forward toward commercialsation of a small size reactor achieving both outstanding safety and economy," MHI said in a statement.