CAPE TOWN, June 21 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's deputy president David Mabuza on Thursday denied speculations that South Africa has reached or is about to reach a nuclear deal with Russia.
Mabuza told MPs that he and Russian leaders made no mention of the nuclear issue during his recent visit to Russia.
In response to a parliamentary question about whether any current or future agreements were made regarding nuclear power, Mabuza said no discussions regarding the so-called nuclear deal were held.
"No reference was made about any current and/or future agreements," Mabuza added.
However, he said South Africa's position on nuclear power remains that it is part of its energy mix to diversify energy sources.
"Our Integrated Resource Plan to be concluded later in the year will determine the role of nuclear in that mix," said Mabuza.
Mabuza visited Russia in May as a special envoy appointed by President Cyril Ramaphosa to attend Russian President Vladimir Putin's inauguration.
There have been speculations that Mabuza took the opportunity to discuss the possibility of reaching a nuclear deal with Russia.
The purpose of the visit to Russia was to deliver South Africa's message of congratulation to Putin on his re-election and his inauguration as the president of Russia, Mabuza said.
The South African government has approved its Integrated Resource Plan of 2010-30, which provides for coal, gas, renewables and 9,600 megawatts of nuclear power as part of the energy landscape by 2030.
South Africa reportedly is looking to Russia as a potential partner in its nuclear plan, under which the latter would help build nuclear reactors at a cost of 1 trillion rand (about 75 billion U.S. dollars).
Last year, the High Court in the Western Cape ruled that the South African government's nuclear deal is "unconstitutional and unlawful," and ordered the government to set aside the deal.
