Eskom Advances Thyspunt Nuclear Plan
Eskom has completed preliminary public consultations and submitted its Final Scoping Report for a proposed nuclear station at Thyspunt.
Updated on Nov. 5, 2026 in Nuclear
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Eskom completed preliminary public consultations for a nuclear reactor at Thyspunt and submitted the Final Scoping Report to the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment on 6 July 2026. The project forms part of the Integrated Resource Plan, which includes 5,200 MW of new nuclear power.
Why it matters
The Thyspunt project is part of the government's Integrated Resource Plan, which includes 5,200 MW of new nuclear power. It would add to South Africa's single operating nuclear plant at Koeberg, which has a nameplate capacity of 1,940 MW across two units.
The environmental application provides for up to 5,200 MW of generating capacity, compared with Koeberg's 1,940 MW across two units. The environmental assessment and nuclear regulatory process remain incomplete, and no reactor vendor or final design has been selected.
The players
Eskom
Eskom is South Africa's state-owned electricity utility, responsible for generation, transmission and distribution across the country.
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
The national department responsible for environmental authorisations and the regulation of environmental impacts of development projects in South Africa.
The details
Eskom submitted the Final Scoping Report for Thyspunt, which uses a technology-neutral Plant Parameter Envelope to assess environmental impacts. The report recommended further studies only at Thyspunt rather than alternative sites such as Bantamsklip.
Timeline
January 2025: SA Heritage Resources Agency designated Thyspunt a Grade I Cultural Landscape.
6 July 2026: Eskom submitted the Final Scoping Report to the environment department.
Big Picture
The Thyspunt plan follows the Integrated Resource Plan's inclusion of 5,200 MW of new nuclear power, extending South Africa's nuclear fleet beyond Koeberg, whose two units received 20-year licence extensions into the 2040s.
The project would add substantial new nuclear generating capacity to the national grid if it proceeds. Final approval depends on the environmental impact assessment and the nuclear regulatory process, which have not yet concluded.
The takeaway
Thyspunt is at an early stage, with the environmental assessment and regulatory approvals still ahead. Its eventual progress will depend on those approvals and on funding mechanisms still under examination.
Further reading
Explore more on Nuclear developments shaping South Africa's energy future.
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