New forum downplays dangers

Concerns about the danger posed by a nuclear reactor at Thyspunt are misplaced, according to Thyspunt Nuclear Development Forum chairman Phumzile Oliphant.

Speaking at the launch of the forum – which is funded by the parastatal Nuclear Industrial Association of SA (Niasa) – on Wednesday night, Oliphant acknowledged the 2011 disaster at Japan’s Fukushima nuclear plant.

“But the cause there was a tsunami. It was a natural disaster. This is not Fukushima.”

Oliphant told The Herald invitations had been extended to a range of bodies and individuals both for and against nuclear development at Thyspunt.

But the Thyspunt Alliance, an NGO linking community and business opposed to the project, said it was not invited.

Alliance spokeswoman Trudi Malan said the forum should have waited for the environmental impact assessment (EIA) ruling before seeking to galvanise residents around predicted job opportunities.

Kouga Municipality mayor Elza van Lingen said it was questionable how the nuclear project or any business linked to it could progress until the EIA ruling and the finalisation of the new draft integrated resource plan, which pushes back the need for nuclear power to 2037.

The launch audience included youth, business, sports and education representatives, and nuclear heavyweights Niasa managing director Knox Msebenzi and Rosatom SA boss Zakhele Madela.