Programme Director, Minister of Electricity and Energy, Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa Deputy Minister, Ms Samantha Graham-Mare Ministers and Premiers in attendance Honourable Members of Parliament and the Portfolio Committee on Electricity and Energy, Chairpersons of Boards, Chief Executive officers, Directors-General Executive Mayors Senior Managers Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen
Good Afternoon
Allow me to start by expressing our gratitude to the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) that continues to develop, utilize, and manage nuclear technology for national socio-economic development through, amongst others, the production and global supply of quality radiation-based products and services including industrial and medical radioisotopes. The Department of Electricity and Energy wishes to congratulate Necsa on the achievement of this milestone, the 60th Anniversary of SAFARI-1 Research Reactor.
The Department will continue to support Necsa in its endeavours to conduct nuclear research and development, as enshrined in its founding legislation, the Nuclear Energy Act of 1999 (Act 46 of 1999) which includes the operation and maintenance of SAFARI-1 research reactor.
It is worth noting that the South African Nuclear Programme is one of the earliest on record. In the 1950’s, as a byproduct of its booming gold mining industry, South Africa was a uranium exporter that helped build nuclear programmes in other countries. It may surprise some that South Africa is one of the founder members of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) alongside other countries such as the United States of America, the United Kingdom, the Russian Federation and France.
South Africa currently has a permanent seat in the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), a position that is very strategic and one that we need to maintain through growing our national nuclear infrastructure.
Following the famous “Atoms for Peace” speech by the then President of the Unites States, President Eisenhower, a global peaceful use of nuclear initiative was established which led to South Africa acquiring a Research Reactor from the United States in 1965. This Research Reactor is turning 60 years today, hence we are gathered here today to celebrate it’s journey to place South Africa in global nuclear research.
We are the only country in the world that has built and voluntarily relinquished its nuclear weapons in 1989. Following that we committed ourselves to the IAEA Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1991 which prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and weapons technology, and the country further inspired the regional treaty in Africa called the Pelindaba Treaty, basically rendering the entire continent a nuclear weapons free zone and is currently hosting the African Commission on Nuclear Energy which promote the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology. During the same year (1991) the country acceded to the Safeguards Agreement with the IAEA followed by the Additional Protocol in 2002. Since July 2015, South Africa started implementing the Integrated Safeguards after the IAEA drew a conclusion of the absence of undeclared nuclear material and activities. This gives assurance that South Africa is committed to utilize Nuclear Energy for Peaceful purposes,
It was deemed important for the nuclear programme to be maintained even in the new democratic dispensation, with the Energy White Paper of 1998 leading to revised legislation of the 1999 Nuclear Energy Act which established Necsa as a Research and Development institution. Later in 2008 a Nuclear Energy Policy was promulgated to clearly define roles and responsibilities of every stakeholder. The Nuclear Energy Policy provides a strategic framework for the development and regulation of South Africa’s Nuclear Energy Programme. The policy promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy while ensuring that uranium mining, fuel cycle processes, and reactor technologies are developed in a safe, sustainable, and transparent manner. The long-term vision is to achieve self-sufficiency in nuclear fuel cycle capabilities, subject to feasibility assessments.
Ladies and Gentlemen
Mindful of the ageing SAFARI-1, the Department has long, been working diligently with Necsa and other relevant stakeholders such as the Department of Science and Innovation, Trade, Industry and Competition through a Ministerial Task Team on Multi-Purpose Reactor (MPR) to bring on board a new reactor beyond 2030. The Department chairs this Task Team and since its inception in 2019, a few milestones have been reached. These include the completion of the Project Initiation, Pre-Feasibility Report, both of which were tabled at Cabinet and gained its support. In 2024, the Task Team completed the Feasibility Report which was independently gateway reviewed, rendering the MPR project shovel ready in terms of the first major investment decision to be made.
It is upon this basis that Necsa, working with the Department were able to solicit seed funding through Budget Facility Infrastructure programme of the National Treasury. The next step underway is to register the project as a Strategic Integrated Project (SIP) under the Infrastructure South Africa. This process is at an advanced stage of the Intermediate Business Case. The Department also supported the motivation to the Ministers of Finance and Electricity and Energy for approval of the various stages of the MPR project in terms of the requirements of Section 14 of the Nuclear Energy Act.
This project will ensure that South Africa remains amongst the top four global radioisotopes producers as well as ensuring continuation of research and development on nuclear technology. This places Necsa on the path to continue providing much needed radioisotopes for medical and industrial applications, execution of research through beam lines, and creation of jobs which are essential for our economy.
Congratulation to the Necsa team. Let us continue to celebrate the successes through events of this nature to remind ourselves that we are still on a good path with many positive outcomes.
I Thank you.