There is a one-in-five chance that nuclear power could come to Pearly Beach. Bantamsklip, which is just ten kilometres south-east of Pearly Beach, is one of five possible sites earmarked by Eskom for a second nuclear power station. At the moment Eskom is conducting environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies for the five sites.

Due to the growing demand for electricity in South Africa, Eskom plans to generate another 20 000 megawatts of electricity over the next 20 years. Nuclear energy will play a significant part in reaching this capacity, with a second nuclear power station expected to provide 4 000 megawatts of electricity. Eskom wants to cut back on its over-reliance on coal and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions, since conventional coal-fired power stations are notoriously dirty.

The other four potential reactor sites are Thyspunt in the Eastern Cape, located west of Port Elizabeth near Cape St Francis, Duynefontein within the existing Koeberg nuclear power station site in the Western Cape, Brazil in the Northern Cape located in the Kleinsee/Port Nolloth area, and Skulpfontein in the same province, near Hondeklipbaai/Kleinsee. If a site is approved construction could begin quite soon, in 2009 or 2010. The power plant would be commissioned around 2016.

The Bantamsklip site, which is part of a 1 838 hectare farm, has been owned by Eskom since the 1980s when the company first began looking for potential nuclear power sites. Bantamsklip has one disadvantage, since it lies on a fault line. However, Eskom believes that constructing a six metre thick slab of concrete for the station to rest on will ensure it remains undamaged if there were to be an earth tremor. Other disadvantages are the fact that two threatened species of vegetation occur in the Bantamsklip area and a very rare coastal bird, the African black oystercatcher, breeds along the coastline.

The proposed nuclear plant will need 31 hectares of land to accommodate the nuclear reactor, turbine/generator complex, fuel storage area, waste handling facilities and other infrastructure. In addition, large areas of land will have to be cleared for the installation of high-voltage overhead transmission lines that would run from Groot Hagelkraal through Walker Bay Reserve, Hermanus Lagoon, Fernkloof, Babilonstoren and Perdekloof to Botrivier. Duynefontein would be a better site since much of the infrastructure for a nuclear power plant already exists, such as the power lines.

Naturally there has been much opposition to the proposed nuclear power station, since it would have a profound impact on the whole Hermanus/Gansbaai/Pearly Beach area. In June representatives from Eskom and environmental specialist group Arcus Gibb held public meetings in the area and tried to answer questions posed by residents. People can still be involved in the process and express their views by registering as an Interested and Affected Party (I&AP).

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In response to Eskom's plans, concerned residents have established the Bantamsklip Anti-Nuclear Group (BANG). BANG has come up with a number of concerns related to Pearly Beach and the surrounding area:

There are many other concerns about nuclear power coming to the area, such as the impact on tourism and the environment on which tourism depends. And of course there is always the possibility of a nuclear accident occurring. In the unlikely event of a meltdown the whole area would probably have to be evacuated, which means that access to some of the world's most pristine and rare plants and animals will be cut off.

Other issues about nuclear power in general relate to waste management and the high cost of nuclear power. There is still no satisfactory long-term method of waste disposal and nuclear waste remains radioactive for thousands of years. The cost is also extremely high - one estimate puts nuclear energy as seven times that of conventional energy. There are of course some advantages to nuclear power, such as almost no greenhouse gas emissions and the fact that nuclear power can use sea water for cooling and not precious fresh water. However, the issue at hand has little to do with the merits of nuclear power, but the impact a power station will have on the area surrounding Bantamsklip.

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To register as an interested and affected party (I&AP), contact the Environmental Management Consultants ACER (Africa):

To contact BANG - Bantamsklip Anti-Nuclear Group - for more information: