-. ^4 trsouth Africa to Build Nuclear Acceleratort', Financial Tirnes (rondon), -Lo uepremoer lgrr.A/35/4o2 Engli sh Annex Stellenbosch, Pretoria, Potchefstroom, Cape Town and Witvatersrand on subJectsranging from nuclear red:'_cine to the use of :r:ad.iois o1,op_^s in p Lant biology, 53/ 25. A French consortiun of Framatome, Alsthon, and sprE Batignolles is buildingtwo light-vater pressurized water power reactors of 92? l,{We each at Koeberg on thecoast north of Cape Tolnn. The contract for these power reactors, which vi1l besouth Africars first, was signed in August 1976 between the lrench consortir:n andthe Electricity Supply Conmission of South Africa (nscom). The first reactor isto be cornmissioned in January 1983i the second. is schedul-ed for a year later,financing is being provided by the Fr.ench bank Cr6dit Lyonnais and. guaranteed bythe tr'rench covernment. 5V 27. Until recently it was expected that the 1ow enriched uranium fuel for thesereactols wouLd be supplied by th€ united states. An enrichment services conrracr had been signed in 19?l+ betlreen South Africa and the United. States at a time lrhcnit appeared south Africa woul-d buy the Koeberg reacto?s from a General Electric-]edconsortiurn, 5V However ' the cornmitnent to se]l- the low enriched uraniu.m fuel was reassessed by the carter Adninistration in lieht of its heightened. concern aboutnucfear non-proliferation. Throughout l-977 and, into 19?B and 1979, periodic high 1eve1 d.iscussion were held in which the United States made South African accessionto the non-pro1i feration Treaty a condition fo? delivering Low enriched uraniumfuel- for Koeberg. 55/ Unr,'il1ing to accept that condition, South Africa, as noted above, apparently has decided to expand. its pilot enrichment plant to supply tou enriched uranilrm fuel for Koebe"g indigenousJ.y. However, in the absence of analternative outside supplier of enrichment services, delays in building the enriclnaent facility are 1ike1y to set back the sched.uled. operating date of Koeberg-1 .
**Analysis**
The text discusses the construction of a nuclear accelerator in South Africa, the financing and supply of fuel for the reactors, and the country's decision to expand its pilot enrichment plant to supply its own enriched uranium fuel. The text also mentions the international diplomatic context surrounding the project, including the United States' concerns about nuclear non-proliferation. Given the focus on the nuclear industry, international relations, and energy production, it is likely that the text falls under the categories related to science, technology, and international relations.

**Category**
Science and technology, International trade