Koeberg, Cape Town © Eskom
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A new phase of planning has started for a large-scale nuclear power station proposed for South Africa’s coastline, with Thyspunt once again central to the conversation. The development, led by Eskom, carries a potential generating capacity of up to 5,200 MW and includes a full suite of supporting infrastructure.
Two locations remain under assessment: Thyspunt within the Kouga Municipality and Bantamsklip in the Overstrand Municipality. Both sites return to formal evaluation as part of the country’s long-term energy planning.
Environmental Process Underway
The project enters the regulatory pipeline under the National Environmental Management Act, triggering a full Environmental Impact Assessment. The process follows a Scoping and Environmental Impact Reporting structure, designed to test site suitability, identify risks, and assess cumulative impacts across land, ocean, and infrastructure systems.
Independent oversight sits with WSP Group Africa (Pty) Ltd, appointed as the Environmental Assessment Practitioner.
From 1 April 2026, the Draft Scoping Report becomes available for public review, opening the first formal window for input into the process.
Public Participation Opens
Residents, businesses, organisations, and interested stakeholders are invited to register and engage. Registration ensures access to project updates, technical reports, and the ability to submit formal comments throughout the assessment.
This stage carries weight. Issues raised during scoping shape the scope of the full Environmental Impact Report and determine which factors receive detailed analysis.
Thyspunt Carries Local Significance
The Thyspunt site brings a layered set of local considerations into sharp focus.
Marine ecology remains central. The coastline supports key chokka squid spawning grounds, linked directly to the regional fishing economy. Concerns centre on sediment movement and disruption during offshore construction.
Tourism adds another dimension. The stretch between Oyster Bay, Cape St Francis, and St Francis Bay is built around open coastline, surf breaks, and low-density development. Large-scale infrastructure would reshape that environment.
Infrastructure capacity also comes into play. Roads, water systems, sanitation, and municipal services across Kouga face existing pressure. A major construction phase would lift demand across housing, traffic, and public services.
Process Now Live
The current phase sets the framework. It defines what gets studied, how impacts are measured, and how decisions will be informed.
The Draft Scoping Report is now open. Stakeholder input begins here, and it will shape everything that follows.
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