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South Africa's Eskom says benefits of nuclear expansion will outweigh costs

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - The benefits of adding more nuclear power in South Africa will outweigh the cost implications, Eskom's acting chief executive told reported on Friday. In the midst of it worst electricity shortage crisis since 2008, Africa's most developed economy plans to add 9,600 megawatts of nuclear power in the next decade and a half, estimated by analysts to cost as much as $100 billion. "My instinct, and looking at Koeberg for example, is that it is likely that the future benefits will far outweigh the costs of building now," acting CEO Brian Molefe said. Koeberg nuclear power plant is the continent's sole atomic plant, managed by Eskom.