Coega and Eskom sign a Memorandum of Understanding

Edited by Bev Mortimer: Yesterday, 9 April, More nuclear plans at Thyspunt South Africa were announced following Coega and Eskom’s signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) aimed at strengthening cooperation in support of South Africa’s Nuclear New Build Programme (NNBP), yesterday, 9 April.

The MoU is aimed at strengthening cooperation in support of South Africa’s Nuclear New Build Programme (NNBP). According to an announcement by Coega the MoU sets out the basis for collaboration between the two state-owned entities across several key focus areas: Infrastructure development; Industrialisation and localisation; Regulatory and site readiness; Skills and supplier development; Logistics coordination; and Socio-economic investment initiatives.
This agreement is said to be for a period of three years from the date of signature. The two companies are likely begin outlining further plans and projects under the NNBP. Chief nuclear officer of Eskom, Velaphi Ntuli remarked: “Athough we do not expect any ground to be broken, nor any new infrastructure to be spun up in the space of 36 months, especially as Eskom’s ambitious goal falls within a larger 14 year window,” the statement said.
“The Nuclear New Build Programme is about more than megawatts. It is about industrialisation, organisation, skills development – but most importantly, inclusive economic growth executed safely, transparently and within the rule of law. We believe Coega brings proven capability in infrastructure development and investment facilitation, as a catalytic enabler of the Nuclear New Build Programme. Let’s ensure that the agreement moves us from vision to tangible outcomes for the people of South Africa.
“To support effective implementation, the parties have agreed to establish a Joint Steering Committee that will provide strategic oversight, approve joint work programmes, monitor progress, and facilitate alignment on regulatory, operational, and strategic matters,” the Coega statement further said.
Ntuli said the agreement should translate into real outcomes. “Let’s ensure that the agreement moves us from vision to tangible outcomes for the people of South Africa.”

Coega CEO, Themba Koza, said the partnership reinforces the corporation’s role in national development.
All cooperation will be undertaken within a comprehensive legal and regulatory framework that prioritises safety, environmental integrity, and fiscal accountability. “This MoU affirms Coega’s catalytic role in enabling strategic national programmes… we aim to ensure that the Nuclear New Build Programme delivers inclusive growth, localisation, skills development, and sustainable economic participation, particularly for communities in the Eastern Cape.”
The above Coega and Eskom agreement follows the announcement last month, on 26 March by Eskom Holdings SOC that it proposes the establishment of a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) generating up to 5200 MW, with associated infrastructure, at either Thyspunt in the Kouga Local Municipality of the Eastern Cape Province, or, Bantamsklip in the Overstrand Local Municipality of the Western Cape Province, which requires an Environmental Authorisation (EA) application.
To this end stakeholders were notified of the public meetings to be held to present the DSR for the proposed NPP project.
Meeting number Date Time Venue Address
1 07 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 Hermanus Municipal Auditorium 1 Magnolia St, Hermanus, 7200
2 08 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 NG Kerk Pearly Beach Main Road, Pearly Beach, 7220
3 09 April 2026 18:30 – 20:30 Gansbaai Tourism Information and Conference Center Hall Great White Junction, Main Road, Gansbaai, 7220
4 20 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 St Francis Bay Golf Club 556 Lyme Rd, St Francis Bay, 6312
5 21 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 KwaNomzamo Community Hall Mjekula St, Humansdorp, 6300
6 22 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 Sea Vista Hall Geelbek St, St Francis Bay, 6312
7 23 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 Oyster Bay Hall Oester Ave, Oyster Bay
8 24 April 2026 18:00 – 20:00 Newton Hall 17 Goedehoop St, Jeffreys Bay, 6330

Eskom announced in 2016 that it will ensure  infrastructure will be in place before  the construction of a nuclear power plant at Thyspunt. This was according to Loyiso Tyabashe, Eskom Senior Manager – Nuclear New Build, who met with members of the Kouga Business Forum (KBF) and the Kouga & Rural Business Development Chamber (KRBD) earlier on 20 September that year.
Tyabashe made the above announcement in response  to the Forum’s concerns published by St Francis Chronicle in the previous month, which quoted Jordaan as saying that an estimated R5.5-billion worth of infrastructure needs to be in place in Kouga before the Thyspunt nuclear plant can be built. Tyabashe, who led a high profile Eskom delegation that met with the KBF and (KRBD), also said policies will be in place to ensure local participation in the Thyspunt project and local Kouga businesses will be ‘on top of the list’ of vendors.
Eskom said at the time it was waiting for the ROD and the NNR for the final licenses needed for project commencement.
In 2016 representatives of the Kouga Business Forum (KBF) and the Kouga & Rural Business Development Chamber (KRBDC) met with the delegation from Eskom to clarify issues around the infrastructure needed to implement the proposed nuclear plant. Jordaan, chairman of the KBF, welcomed the Eskom delegation to the Kouga and emphasised that a project, like Thyspunt if correctly executed can and will have a positive effect on the Kouga community, not just so far as job creation, but infrastructure enhancement and other spin offs. “This project will ensure better living conditions for all Kouga inhabitants the Kouga.” he said.   
However,  he warned that if the project is without proper planning  and timely  investment in infrastructure, the project could lead to chaos and disaster for generations to come.”  Jordaan further emphasised that the KBF and KRBDC will only support Thyspunt if Eskom can ensure that proper planning and funding will be allocated to infrastructure needed.
In April 2017 at a meeting the late Kouga Municipality’s Executive Mayor, Elza van Lingen, said the Kouga Council is not opposed to nuclear development per se. “But we are not willing for Kouga and its people to be disadvantaged by the project. If a nuclear plant is to be built in our area, Kouga’s people must be ready to reap the benefits and proper measures must be in place to mitigate any potential threats.”
At the meeting van Lingen stressed that a final decision had not yet been made about the proposed nuclear plant at Thyspunt. “These structures are being put in place so as to ensure role players and stakeholders are ready should the project receive the nod. “If approved, Thyspunt will be the biggest development our municipal area has ever seen. We want to ensure that the best interests of our communities are taken into account at all times,” she said.