Russia\u2019s state-owned nuclear energy company, Rosatom, on Tuesday slammed all allegations that Russia had signed a secret and corrupt deal with President Jacob Zuma to secure a long-term nuclear deal in South Africa.<\/p>\n
Viktor Polikarpov, Rosatom\u2019s head of sub-Saharan Africa operations, told Fin24 at the Africa Energy Indaba in Sandton, that there have been no secrets as South Africa plans its nuclear build programme and stressed that Russia did not sign a secret deal with Zuma.<\/p>\n
Polikarpov said there is no truth in the rumours that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zuma struck a secret nuclear deal to seal a century-long nuclear programme in South Africa.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe cannot hook up with a politician and make a deal (that will span) generations,\u201d he told Fin24 on Tuesday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf we are chosen as the preferred bidder, we will have to stay here as strategic partners and work together for 100 years at least,\u201d he said. \u201cIt is not a short-term political solution. It\u2019s a long-term cooperative country-to-country solution.\u201d<\/p>\n
Earlier, Polikarpov told a nuclear forum discussion at the indaba that there was and is no secrecy regarding Rosatom\u2019s bid to win the 9 600 MW nuclear new build programme.<\/p>\n
\u201cI really don\u2019t feel we are secret,\u201d he said in a response to a question. \u201cYou can come to our office and see for yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n
He was sitting next to Dr Yves Guenon, Areva’s South Africa director. The French company has put its full effort into competing for the bid in 2016, something Polikarpov said would not be happening if a deal had been signed.<\/p>\n
Polikarpov said suspicion that Rosatom had signed a deal occurred because it was the first country to sign the intergovernmental agreement on nuclear energy.<\/p>\n
The US, China, South Korea and France subsequently also signed the agreement, which is needed by international law before any further agreements can progress.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a framework agreement,\u201d said Polikarpov. \u201cNo deal was struck. It has been much exaggerated by the press, who says it is a done deal. It\u2019s not a done deal. I don\u2019t see really any secret.\u201d<\/p>\n
He added that there was a mishap with Rosatom\u2019s press statement in 2014, in which it stated that it had won the overall deal. \u201cFrankly, that was a mistake,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
In his State of the Nation address in 2016, Zuma said South Africa would proceed with its nuclear programme with caution.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe will test the market to ascertain the true cost of building modern nuclear plants,\u201d he said. \u201cLet me emphasise that we will only procure nuclear on a scale and pace that our country can afford.\u201d<\/p>\n
The caution follows a gazette signed by the Energy Department over Christmas, which allows it to call for nuclear construction and financing proposals from Rosatom and its competitors.<\/p>\n
The Russians are prepared. Rosatom set up an office in Johannesburg in 2015 and employed a public relations firm to boost its image. Polikarpov said his aim is to change the perception around nuclear and to build trust and relationships.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe have a good PR team in South Africa,\u201d said Polikarpov. \u201cWe are working hard to change the perception and eradicate the myths, which are circulating around nuclear and around Rosatom.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe South African public is frankly very emotional,\u201d he said. \u201cWe cannot deal with nuclear on emotions only. We all have to be very knowledgeable and very pragmatic (about nuclear energy).\u201d<\/p>\n
News24<\/a><\/p>\n Zuma: Nuclear plan will roll out at an affordable pace<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n SA\u2019s nuclear procurement deal raises eyebrows<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Russia \u2018may have jumped the gun\u2019 on SA nuclear energy deal<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Energy Minister rejects R1 trillion nuclear build cost<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\nMore on nuclear<\/h3>\n