German graphite producer SGL Carbon has signed an agreement to supply graphite to South African nuclear energy group Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR).
PBMR is owned by a consortium comprising the largest South African energy supplier, Eskom, as well as the state-owned development finance institution Industrial Development Corp of South Africa (IDC), and British Nuclear Fuels (BNFL). PBMR has the ambition to construct commercially operating pebble bed modular reactors in South Africa beginning in 2013.
The planned construction of a demonstration reactor beginning in 2007 could translate into sales of €35 – €40 million during the period 2006 to 2008 for SGL Carbon.