South Africa’s PBMR Nuclear Project Set for Revival by Early 2026, Minister Confirms

Advanced Stage of Reactivation

The process to reactivate South Africa’s dormant pebble-bed modular reactor (PBMR) project has reached an advanced stage, according to Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa. Sources indicate the minister plans to approach Cabinet to formally lift the care-and-maintenance program either by end of November or no later than the first quarter of next year.

Advanced Stage of Reactivation
Regret Over Previous Decision
Financing and Development Approach
Separate from Broader Nuclear Plans
Limited Room for SMR Experimentation

The Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) is reportedly preparing for the transition, with Ramokgopa stating that “part of the reason we need to lift the care and maintenance is that Necsa does not currently have the legal basis to engage with a potential partner.” The minister suggested that Cabinet approval would open the door to potential suitors for the project., according to market analysis

Regret Over Previous Decision

Minister Ramokgopa described the original decision to shutter the PBMR research program in 2010 as one “we live to regret,” particularly as other countries like China have since perfected the technology. However, he noted that it was “no use crying over spilt milk” and emphasized the current opportunity to revive the project.

Analysts suggest there is significant interest in Necsa taking up the project again, with the minister reporting “a procession of people” already approaching the CEO. The PBMR technology represents what sources describe as the underlying technology for small modular reactors (SMRs), which have gained global attention from data center operators and other energy-intensive industries.

Financing and Development Approach

The project will be developed off balance sheet, according to the minister’s statements. “We don’t have money, but we have the infrastructure, and the suitors know that,” Ramokgopa stated, expressing confidence that financing arrangements would be manageable given the existing assets and global interest in SMR technology.

The PBMR was originally developed as a high-temperature, gas-cooled nuclear reactor that used fuel in the form of small, graphite-coated spheres called pebbles. The South African development program ran from 1994 to 2009 before being placed on care and maintenance in 2010 due to escalating costs and other challenges.

Separate from Broader Nuclear Plans

Reports confirm that reviving the PBMR project will be a separate process from the proposed 5.2 GW of nuclear power outlined in the newly released Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) 2025. The IRP 2025 promises more than 105,000 MW of new generation capacity by 2039 from combined sources, with an expected investment of R2.2-trillion.

Ramokgopa clarified that the IRP’s nuclear component was “not a function of whether we lift the care and maintenance of the PBMR.” He expected the proposed nuclear investment to utilize tried and tested technology, such as the pressurized water reactors used at South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear power station.

Limited Room for SMR Experimentation

While acknowledging global interest in SMR technology, the minister noted that “there are two in the world in commercial operation and we don’t think we’ll have room for experimentation” within the main nuclear build program. However, analysts suggest it might be possible to ringfence approximately 100 MW of the 5.2 GW total for SMR technology development.

Ramokgopa described this potential allocation as “really about a level of experimentation in partnership with people already in that space.” The minister identified scarcity of nuclear skills as the biggest risk to the IRP 2025’s nuclear program, noting that at the PBMR’s development peak, South Africa had roughly 2,000 engineers working in the sector, many of whom now work for leading global companies.

The potential revival of the PBMR project represents what industry observers characterize as a significant opportunity for South Africa to reenter the advanced nuclear technology sector, particularly as global demand for small modular reactors continues to grow among energy-intensive industries seeking reliable, carbon-free power sources.