South Africa: Nuclear agreement signed with France

The Department of Energy on 14 October announced the signing of an intergovernmental framework agreement on nuclear co-operation with France. After the furore surrounding the announcement of a similar agreement with Russia in September, this statement was more carefully worded, announcing that the “agreement initiates the preparatory phase for the possible deployment of French nuclear technology in South Africa”. It goes on to say that “the agreement builds on the more than 40 years of co-operation between South Africa and France, as symbolised by the Koeberg nuclear power plant.