The Southern African Agri Initiative (Saai) and US venture capital firm C5 Capital have announced a groundbreaking strategic partnership. The alliance aims to spearhead the development of innovative nuclear solutions to bolster agriculture and ensure food security across South Africa and the wider African continent. This also sets the standard for similar projects throughout Africa.

The collaboration will explore the application of cutting-edge nuclear techniques to enhance agricultural productivity, animal health, food safety and quality, and effective land and water management, among other critical areas. Sasi says central to this initiative is “a three-pronged strategy encompassing the long-term integration of advanced nuclear energy generation within South African agriculture, the innovative application of artificial intelligence (AI) in farming practices and the ambitious venture into agriculture in space and the application of space-based data to agriculture”.

The announcement also heralds the continuation of C5 Capital’s strategic vision, building upon its existing plans to construct a small modular nuclear reactor (SMR) for energy offtake by leading datacentre companies in Cape Town. This project also signifies a return to and an evolution of South Africa’s once-leading role in the field of pebble bed modular reactor (PBMR) development.

South Africa began developing the PBMR in the 1990s, but it was put into care and maintenance in 2010. It was reincorporated, into Eskom, in 2012.

The pebble bed reactor design was developed in Germany and was used there in the 1970s and 1980s. South Africa became involved in 1988 when Johan Slabber, then with the Atomic Energy Commission (later Necsa) met with the German pebble bed reactor scientists.

The proposal for a direct cycle pebble bed reactor designed for South African conditions was formulated. Slabber later joined the South African systems engineering company IST and introduced the concept to IST’s Dieter Matzner and to Eskom’s David Nicholls. The three founded PBMR (Pty) Ltd in 1993.

In 1995, the South African government lent support to the study of the project, and in 2000 South Africa approved the detailed feasibility phase. Internal research was strong, with the PBMR project generating more than 100 patents during the period 1999-2004.

Eskom committed to purchase a demonstration reactor and to operate it. The Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) drew up plans to acquire 24 PBMR reactors over the next 20 years to contribute 4,000 MWe to the southern African grid.

A large number of domestic and foreign subcontractors became involved in the project, which developed a massive supporting infrastructure. Principal PBMR facilities included:

  • the headquarters in Centurion;
  • the Pebble Bed Micro Model at the Potchefstroom Campus of North-West University to test gas turbine principles;
  • a High Pressure Test Unit and High-Temperature Test Unit, which were part of the Heat Transfer Test Facility at the Potchefstroom Campus;
  • the Helium Test Facility at Pelindaba; a high temperature, high pressure rig designed to test key systems before going to site; and
  • a prototype fuel fabrication plant, including kernel production, coated particle production, fuel sphere production, and quality control.

The PBMR Test Reactor was to be built at the Koeberg existing nuclear plant site north of Cape Town.

Saai says “Despite the subsequent discontinuation of South Africa’s PBMR programme, this partnership aims to reignite the nation’s legacy in nuclear innovation, leveraging proudly South African technology that has been refined and improved over the years.”

“C5 Capital is thrilled to join forces with Saai in this transformative endeavour,” noted Chris Opperman, Operating Partner for C5 Capital. “By combining our expertise in advanced nuclear solutions with Saai’s deep understanding of agricultural needs, we are poised to make a substantial impact on energy sustainability and food security in South Africa and beyond,” said André Pienaar, CEO of C5 Capital.

Image: The panel (L-R) – Francois Mellet, Electrical Engineer and Managing Director, Stratek Global; Dr Kelvin Kemm, Nuclear Physicist and Chairman, Stratek Global; Chris Opperman, Operating Partner for Africa and the Middle East, C5 Capital; and Francois Rossouw, CEO of Saai (courtesy of Saai)