China and South Africa have been steadily increasing their bilateral economic relations. However, the combination of one developed country pairing with a developing one does not involve a lop-sided partnership, but remains mutually beneficial to both. China has granted aid for infrastructure development, set up companies, sent technical manpower and helped South Africa advance, in return for access to its raw materials, oil and energy sources. Lasting relationships are built on the foundation of strong economic fundamentals.

China and South Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will enable cooperation between the two countries to develop the pebble bed nuclear reactor technology. China has the technical expertise required for building the pebble bed nuclear reactor, having built its own in 2000, which became fully operational in 2003. Now China’s Institute of Nuclear and New Energy Technology of Tsinghua University is working in collaboration with Pebble Bed Modular Reactor Pty Ltd of South Africa. PBMR technology was originally developed in Germany and was later licensed to both China and South Africa. The two nations further developed the concept though in diverse ways. Nonetheless, the commitment of both is to develop efficient and clean nuclear power, to be able to eventually ease out coal power generation, which is environmentally harmful and expensive as well. The CEO of Pebble Bed Modular Reactor, Jaco Kriek stated that though the technical approach of the two projects was different, the fundamental basis remained the same, that is, to use high temperature, gas cooled reactors using pebble fuel to get the best, reliable, clean and sustainable sources of energy. Pebble bed technology was going to overtake other power sources as it offers smart grid solutions for electricity, steam solutions for petrochemical projects, and high temperature hydrogen production.

Countries all over the world to meet their extensive energy requirements are tapping alternative sources of energy, and pebble bed technology is being increasingly rated as one safe alternative. Pebble fuel is being used as a heat source in both China and South Africa though the technology is different. The first commercial scale plant in China (HTR-PM) uses indirect cycle, steam turbine systems, while the South African PBMR is developing a direct cycle gas turbine system.

Source : China Africa