South Africa’s Catholic justice and peace commission has called for a halt to nuclear procurement plans and a referendum on the issue, claiming that the risks of adding nuclear energy to the financially beleaguered country’s power grid outweigh its economic benefits.
According to a statement from the commission’s chairman, Kimberley’s Bishop Abel Gabuza, the country cannot afford the $100 billion (€92 billion) the project would cost, and should be consulted directly through a referendum.
“Given the enormity of the risks that the South African government is asking its citizens to bear through the nuclear option, including the enormous safety risks and economic risks, it is only fair that the government directly consults its people on the matter,” said Bishop Gabuza, adding that while the probability of nuclear accidents is relatively low, the consequences of such accidents were so extreme that they should be considered.
The commission called on President Jacob Zuma’s government to focus its efforts and resources on renewable energy.