The process of procuring 9,600MW of nuclear power will begin by end-September and will be completed within the financial year, according to deputy director-general for nuclear energy at the Department of Energy (DoE) Zizamele Mbambo. Speaking at a government briefing in Durban on 14 July, Mbambo announced that the bid invitation specification and related criteria would be completed by the end of the month, followed shortly by the start of a procurement process that the DoE expects will lead to the selection of a strategic partner or partners by the end of the 2015-16 financial year.