A privately developed small modular reactor (SMR) could be operational near the Gauteng-North West provincial border within the next two years, subject to regulatory approvals and financial close. Developer Stratek Global has secured a site at Zilkaats Estate for deployment of its 35 MW HTMR-100 reactor with plans to scale the project to a 350 MW multi-unit configuration.
The site is near South Africa’s existing nuclear hub at Pelindaba and will require licensing by the National Nuclear Regulator as well as compliance with International Atomic Energy Agency safety standards. Stratek and Zilkaats Estate have committed to a stakeholder engagement process and phased development approach aligned with regulatory and technical milestones.
“The HTMR-100 is a high-temperature, helium-cooled SMR derived from the earlier pebble bed modular reactor programme. It produces 100 MW of thermal energy and 35 MW of electrical output with a compact footprint designed to enable siting in locations without large water resources. The design is suited to electricity generation, industrial heat applications, desalination and hydrogen production,” says Kelvin Kemm, Chairman and CEO of Stratek Global.
Zilkaats Estate, a mixed-use property development, is also considering future facilities for nuclear fuel production and reactor manufacturing. “The site’s proximity to infrastructure, airfield access and grid connection potential is strategic for local deployment and export positioning,” says Gabriel Mokgoko, Chairman of Zilkaats Estate.
Site preparation is expected to begin within two years. Meanwhile, Stratek has reported receiving international interest in the reactor technology and is positioning the project as a step toward commercialisation of SMRs in Africa.
