“The fact of the matter is that nuclear energy could solve our problems — once and for all. Now we are in deep (trouble). We are, therefore, increasing the debt of the country with no hope to bring it down. That’s a problem‚” Zuma told the Friday edition of Business Day in an exclusive interview with the daily.
A deal with Russian nuclear energy firm, Rosatom, would have been in South Africa’s best interest‚ the disgraced former leader told the newspaper. But the plan would have seen South Africa purchasing 9‚600 megawatts of extra nuclear power from the Russians at $90 billion, a figure way above the country’s budget ceiling.
South Africa is reeling after days of rotational load-shedding‚ often continuing throughout the night‚ as embattled power utility Eskom grapples with multiple plant breakdowns and struggles to meet demand for electricity.
The blackouts have caused traffic mayhem‚ forced small businesses to turn away customers and have disrupted the economy. And there is no quick fix on the cards, according to critics.
“It’s going to be a huge struggle ahead to actually overcome this crisis. We’ll get it right in the next year or two‚” acknowledged public enterprises minister Pravin Gordhan at a media briefing on the power crisis on Tuesday.
Zuma told Business Day that nuclear energy deals with Russia would have been in the country’s best interests.
“Russia carried the biggest load in supporting us. Russia looked after our health‚ they never charged us a penny (during the liberation struggle). So we cannot‚ when we are now free‚ forget about people who were our friends in time of need‚” he added.