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Atomic Insights

Atomic energy technology, politics, and perceptions from a nuclear energy insider who served as a US nuclear submarine engineer officer

Did the World Bank Tell Eskom to Cancel the PWR Project?

December 7, 2008 By Rod Adams

I ran across a Reuters article that got me thinking. On December 4, 2008, Reuters reported that the World Bank had agreed to loan Eskom up to $5 Billion for a power capacity expansion program deemed crucial to the mining sector. On that same day, Eskom’s board met and determined that it would no longer pursue the large PWR nuclear power station that has been under consideration for many months. The stated reason was that the company could not put together a suitable financial package for such a large project.

Though the World Bank does not have an explicit policy prohibiting it from financing nuclear projects, the bank does not employ any nuclear project experts and has only financed one nuclear power project in its history, and that was in Italy in 1959. That record indicates an unofficial policy against nuclear power development, since the World Bank has a long history of power plant development finance. Providing reliable electricity, after all is a fundamental part of enabling modern development.

I recognize that correlation is not causation, but I have a sneaking suspicion that Eskom determined that it would be easier to obtain World Bank financing if there was not any nuclear power in the portfolio of projects that might be pursued with the loan proceeds.

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About Rod Adams

Rod Adams is an atomic energy expert with small nuclear plant operating and design experience, now serving as a Managing Partner at Nucleation Capital, an emerging climate-focused fund. Rod, a former submarine Engineer Officer and founder of Adams Atomic Engines, Inc., one of the earliest advanced nuclear ventures, has engaged in technical, strategic, political, historic and financial discussion and analysis of the nuclear industry, its technology and policies for several decades. He is the founder of Atomic Insights and host and producer of The Atomic Show Podcast.

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