Cape Town – Dr. Dion George, Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, gave a green light to build a new nuclear power plant in Duinfontein, Western Cape.
Minister George said he supported the 2017 decision to grant Eskom Environmental Authorization to build and operate a new nuclear power plant.
The future came after appeals made by various environmental organizations to halt the project.
“In considering these appeals, I have carefully reviewed the Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIAR) and the independent peer reviews conducted on the project,” Minister George said in a statement on Friday, August 8, 2025.
“In the end, my decision was made with regard to the principles of the National Environmental Management Act of 1998 (Act No. 107 of 1998), and fully assessed the environmental, social and economic considerations involved.”
The original decision to grant environmental approval was made in October 2017.
However, various appellants challenged the decision and filed appeals ranging from comprehensive and detailed submissions to shorter individual objections.
The statement said the Minister has decided to dismiss the appeal and confirm the decision to grant Eskom environmental approval from the perspective of Section 43(6) of the NEMA.
“The Minister's decision to maintain environmental approval does not automatically grant Eskom's permission to begin with the construction or operation of a nuclear power plant,” the statement said.
Entities must obtain some additional statutory approvals before proceeding according to NEMA section 24(7).
Approvals include:
• Nuclear installation license from the National Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNR).
•Approval from the National Energy Regulatory Authority of South Africa (NERSA).
• Water and Sanitation Department water use license.
•Other related approvals, including those from the Minister of Minerals and Petroleum Resources.
“According to Section 24(7) of the NEMA, granting environmental approval does not exempt applicants from complying with other applicable legal requirements or obtaining permits from other competent authorities,” explained Minister George.
The Minister emphasized that protecting and preserving the South African environment is unnegotiable.
“The Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment is helping South Africa move towards a cleaner, sustainable energy future, with a focus on inclusive growth, job creation and poverty reduction,” the statement said.
The full appeal decision is available on the DFFE appeals page and is available at https://www.dffe.gov.za/sites/default/files/legislations/appeals/29july2025eskomappeal_duynefonteinnu clearpowerstation.pdfdf
