Neither the National Nuclear Regulator nor the National Energy Corporation of SA (Necsa) has been involved in planning the government’s big nuclear build program, much to the dismay of Parliament’s energy committee chairman, Sisa Njikelana.

While planning was still in the early stages — a special co-ordinating committee was working on the details of the envisaged nuclear plants — the lack of involvement by the regulator at this point could result in costly delays later, CEO Boyce Mkhize said on Friday after briefing the committee on the agency’s work.
Both Necsa and the regulator complained of damaging budget constraints, with Mr Mkhize arguing that it was not appropriate to have a ” Mickey Mouse regulator” for the R300bn nuclear infrastructure programme of the kind envisaged by the government.
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