Cape Town — Greenpeace activists today protested at the opening of the two-day long '2nd Nuclear Industry Congress Africa 2015', demanding a halt to shortsighted nuclear plans and the prioritisation of renewable energy investments amid South Africa's energy crisis. As a direct communication to the delegates, the activists disrupted the opening of the congress and unfurled a banner inside the meeting venue that read 'nuclear investments cost the earth'.
"Greenpeace believes that controversial plans for new nuclear investments are not a solution to this country's crushing electricity crisis. In fact, nuclear projects are a distraction from the real solution to the crisis: investments in renewable energy solutions. It would take at least 15 years for new nuclear projects to deliver electricity to the grid, which is far too little, far too late and comes at far too high a price. South Africans cannot afford to wait for another 15 - 20 years for nuclear projects to come online, when renewable energy investments can immediately resolve the country's urgent energy problems" said Melita Steele, Senior Climate and Energy Campaign Manager for Greenpeace Africa.
...
