By Alistair Smith, Chairman of NIA Industrial Affairs Working Group

On 24 August 2005 a historic conference was held in Pretoria to formally launch the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) project with an international audience of political leaders, technical specialists and potential suppliers. The PBMR is a high temperature Helium cooled reactor with a closed-cycle gas turbine conversion system based on the Brayton thermodynamic cycle. The reactor consists of a 20m high, 6m diameter, steel pressure vessel lined with 1m thick graphite bricks which act as an outer reflector and passive heat transfer medium housing the control rods in vertical channels. The core internals are completely ceramic allowing for very high temperatures (950�C at core outlet) with the enriched uranium fuel encased in spheres the size of a tennis ball. When fully loaded the core will have 456,000 fuel spheres (pebbles). The fuel region is annular around a central graphite column which acts as an additional nuclear reflector. The plant will have an electrical output of 165MW making it ideal for modest investment where distributed generation is required. The reactor has a strong negative temperature co-efficient which means that if it overheats due to a loss of coolant it will become less reactive, one of the inherent safety features. The fuel is almost impossible to use for weapon production and therefore it would be acceptable as a reactor for deployment in many countries around the world. As it operates at high temperature, the waste heat could also be used in a process plant to produce Hydrogen as a future fuel for transport.

This reactor technology was first developed in Germany in the 1980's and transferred to South Africa when Germany abandoned their nuclear development programme. Since then the project has developed slowly as funding was gradually released. In 2000 a dedicated development company, PBMR Limited, was formed with the far-sighted support of BNFL who took a minority shareholding. There is no doubt that without the unwavering support of a major nuclear company like BNFL this project could have failed to develop. Today there are 700 full-time staff working on the detailed design of a demonstration power plant to be built at Koeberg near Cape Town which is due to become operational in 2011. If the technology proves to be successful, and all the indications are that it will be, this will be followed by construction of 20-30 units in South Africa with the intention to sell over 100 units worldwide.  A pilot fuel plant is also being built at Pelindaba near Pretoria which will then be expanded to provide fuel for all the future commercial units. The investment for these plants will be in the region of £1.3 Billion.

The conference in Pretoria was very impressive with a combination of technical presentation and supporting speeches by no less than three Government Ministers and the Deputy President.  It was refreshing to see that all the South African Government departments were clearly working together with clear and unequivocal support for the project - 'Joined up Government' at its best. There was also a clear message to the South African public, lead by the politicians, to show that this project will be good for the country with some powerful emotional themes which will engender pride in the project. It will clearly raise the profile of Science, Technology and Industry in South Africa on the world stage.

This project therefore represents one of the most significant nuclear power initiatives in the world today and with support being provided by the UK Government through BNFL it is clearly a project in which UK nuclear companies should take an interest.  The NIA was therefore represented at the conference by Alistair Smith who is Chairman of the NIA's Industrial Affairs Group. His objective was to identify opportunities for NIA members and to promote the capability of the UK nuclear industry. Whilst many of the major contracts for the demonstration plant are already agreed there are numerous opportunities for component manufacturers and service companies to get involved. The quality standards which the nuclear industry has been working to are significantly higher than general industry in South Africa and therefore experienced overseas supplies are being sought particularly for the demonstration plant. There is, of course, a clear requirement for South African industry to benefit from this project and so there is an underlying demand to 'localise' the involvement of overseas companies. This will become more apparent for the commercial units which will follow the demonstration plant and will require knowledge transfer to local companies or to channel support through the Black Economic Empowered subsidiaries of overseas companies.

The UK has significant advantages over the rest of the world to get involved with this project; we have extensive experience of gas-reactor technology, fuel production and graphite behaviour. We speak English, our quality standards and reputation are well respected in South Africa and our methods of doing business are very compatible. The question is how can you get involved with this project?  For major UK companies there may still an opportunity to become an equity partner in the project in return for modest investment which would not only assure you of an involvement with the project but could also represent an attractive long term financial investment. For smaller companies who have products and services to sell, the NIA will be working with the British High Commission in South Africa, with advice from BNFL, to facilitate visits to meet appropriate technical and commercial staff at PBMR Limited. PBMR are also considering running a short version of the suppliers conference in the UK in January 2006 which would provide NIA members with direct access to the key PBMR technical managers.

The PBMR promotional video challenges viewers to 'Expand Your Mind' to the reality that nuclear power is the clean, safe and affordable future for electricity generation. With the strong support of the South African Government and a growing team of global suppliers there is no doubt that the PBMR project will present a very credible way forward for the nuclear industry and is a significant opportunity for NIA members.

For information on the proposed conference in the UK contact Veronica Lekavicius on e-mail This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it or phone 020 7766 6648.