Nuclear power plant plan moving forward
The deal was signed last week in Beijing, the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) announced in Pretoria on Monday, 16 November.
China is competing with Russia, France, the US and South Korea for a nuclear power plant construction programme, which is worth up to R750bn.
The announcement was made by NNR chief executive officer Bismark Tyobeka.
Similar agreements have been signed with the other bidders.
The new reactors are expected to add 9600MW - or nearly a third of the country's generating capacity of 30000MW - with the first unit to be ready in 2023.
While power shortages have hobbled South Africa's economic growth, the plan to expand nuclear energy production has come under fire from critics over environmental concerns and fears that the cost could cripple the economy.
Source: Herald