Chairperson, Minister, I disagree with you. This experiment of the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor, PBMR, nuclear was rejected by Germany who initiated this project. PBMR struggles to get international funding and partnership, and it will cost the taxpayer in South Africa R80 billion to generate a possible only 165MW over six years.
You also requested Parliament in August 2009 for an extension regarding the submission of the PBMR 2009 annual report to avoid a qualified audit report. There appears to be no fixed policy with regard to the direction of PBMR. Originally, the PBMR was established in 1999 with the intention to develop and market small-scale high temperature reactors both locally and internationally. Then earlier this year, PBMR redesigned itself from the original concept as a single direct cycle electricity-generating machine that would use helium to power a gas turbine to a more flexible machine. Now it seems as if PBMR is not sure about its own future. What is the way forward or should we expect a repeat of the uncertainty that has characterised the implementation of this project? Thank you.