Elsewhere in the world, countries like Germany, Belgium and the US are downscaling their nuclear plans or exiting altogether. The reasons include perceptions of increased risk as well as economic factors. The cost of electricity generation from solar photovoltaic and wind technologies has come down dramatically. It already costs less than power produced by nuclear plants and renewable energy is set to become even cheaper.

Given that South Africa has shelved its nuclear plans on affordability grounds, surely less resourced African countries would find investments like these even more difficult.

The country receiving the nuclear plant initially pays very little, but when the repayments kick in, it is suddenly faced with a massive burden that most African economies will never be able to meet.

Full article: The East African