Fragilizing South Africa’s Grid feat. Gaopalelwe Santswere

Gaopalelwe Santswere, a nuclear physicist and regulatory expert,
joins Dr. Keefer to discuss the electricity sector in South
Africa whose aging coal fleet is in need of replacement. Despite
operating the only two nuclear power reactors on the continent at
Koeberg, and plans in the early 2000’s for nearly 10,000MW of
nuclear, the government is pursuing an energy policy that
prioritizes wind and solar.


Gaopalelwe tracks the influence of foreign powers in the
direction of South African energy policy. Countries such as
Germany, as well as regional and international development banks,
have taken an active role in promoting wind and solar and
creating barriers to nuclear energy in Africa. So far, the wind
and solar build-out has had negative consequences for South
Africa, whose public utility Eskom is able to charge electric
users only 40% of what it currently costs to produce the power
using renewables due to generous subsidies reaped by wind and
solar developers.


With industry already leaving South Africa, Gaopalelwe argues
that the embrace of intermittent renewables is leading to
deindustrialization at a time of record unemployment and
represents a regressive energy policy for South Africans and the
neighbouring countries that depend on its electricity exports. In
Europe and North America, the energy debate is detached from the
energy poverty experienced by much of the world. Although South
Africa's energy supply is more secure than in much of Africa,
Gaopalelwe brings an invaluable perspective and context to a
debate dominated by voices from the global north. 


Gaopalelwe holds a Master's degree in Applied Radiation Science
from North-West University Mafikeng Campus, and is currently
pursuing a Ph.D. He is the president of African Young Generation
in Nuclear (AYGN), and a national chairperson of South African
Radiation Protection Association, SARPA.