The Nuclear Energy Costs the Earth Campaign (NECTEC) is committed to the total eradication of the nuclear industry in Southern Africa. We oppose all aspects of nuclear power generation including mining, fuel production, and transport of nuclear materials, reactors, waste and the consequent lack of safety for people and our environment.

There has been a move to expand nuclear energy generation in South Africa, mainly through Eskom's proposed Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR). Nuclear waste is being generated at Koeberg and the Nuclear Energy Corporation's (NECSA) site at Pelindaba, and people are dying of nuclear related diseases.

As an Apartheid military hangover, the nuclear industry has no room in a rights base society. Africa is not a dumping site for nuclear waste or a testing ground for unsafe nuclear technology. It is unjustifiable to use public funds to sponsor nuclear plants that are a threat to people and the environment. Our major strategic objectives are to combat the further developments of the nuclear industry, prevent the importing and smelting of nuclear waste and materials and the promotion of sustainable alternatives in renewable energy.

The campaign revolves around public mobilization against the South African nuclear programme. It aims to increase the level of awareness around the current developments of the nuclear industry nationally and internationally and lobby against nuclear proliferation, nuclear transport and the storage of nuclear waste. The campaign will also focus on the health effects of the nuclear industry on workers and surrounding communities.

Global warming and climate change pose a serious threat to societies of today and finding cleaner energy sources is a big challenge. It is evident that South Africa needs to move away from coal fired power, but government’s move towards nuclear power as an alternative has sparked controversy

Eskom plans to build a Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR), a version of group of reactors termed high temperature gas-cooled reactors (HTGCR). These types of reactors were never successfully commercialised and have been abandoned.

The demonstration plant will be built at Koeberg, and if this is successful at least another ten reactors will be built around South Africa. Eskom plans to build, use and sell these reactors to create a potential export business.