Annual Report 2019

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Annual Report 2019 INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT 2019 South African Nuclear Energy Corporation SOC Limited TABLE OF CONTENTS ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 2 7. HUMAN RESOURCES AND REAL ESTATE MANAGEMENT ------------------------79 1. GENERAL INFORMATION-- -- -- -- -- -- -- -- 3 INTRODUCTION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 80 ABOUT THIS INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT - - - - - - - - - - - 4 STAFF FINANCIAL STATISTICS - - - - - - - - - - - - 85 NECSA’S ORIGINS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 4 STAFF SOCIAL STATISTICS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 87 NECSA STRATEGY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 5 8. GOVERNANCE STRUCTURES- - - - - - 99 ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 7 BOARD OF DIRECTORS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 100 2. CHAIRPERSON’S FOREWORD-- -- -- -- -- -- 8 COMMITTEES OF THE BOARD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 108 3. CEO’S OVERVIEW ----------------------11 EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE - - - - - - - - - - - - -112 4. HIGHLIGHTS OF 2018/2019 - - - - - - 13 RISK MANAGEMENT - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -116 5. KEY PERFORMANCE INFORMATION-- -- -17 9. SUSTAINABILITY REPORT - -- -- -- -- -- --119 STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR PERFORMANCE INFORMATION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 18 INTRODUCTION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -120 AUDITOR GENERAL’S REPORT: PREDETERMINED ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -120 OBJECTIVES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 19 SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -121 OVERVIEW OF PUBLIC ENTITY’S PERFORMANCE - - - - - 19 ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -122 STRATEGIC OUTCOME ORIENTED GOALS - - - - - - - 20 10. FINANCIAL REPORT- - - - - - - - - -123 PERFORMANCE INFORMATION BY PROGRAMME CLUSTER - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 21 11. KNOWLEDGE DISSEMINATION - - - - -243 6. NECSA DIVISIONS AND KEY SUBSIDIARIES ------------------------29 GROUP FUNCTIONS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 30 CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICE - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 37 RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY DEVELOPMENT - - - - - - - 47 NUCLEAR COMPLIANCE AND SERVICES - - - - - - - - - - - - - 59 PELINDABA ENTERPRISES - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 65 BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND INNOVATION - - - - - 67 FINANCE DIVISION - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 69 PELCHEM SOC LTD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 72 NTP RADIOISOTOPES SOC LTD - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 75 1 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS AGSA Auditor-General of South Africa IDC Industrial Development Corporation ALARA As Low As Reasonably Achievable ISI International Scientific Indexing ANSTO Australian Nuclear Science and ISO 9001 Quality Management Systems - Technology Organisation Requirements API Active Pharmaceutical Ingredient KPI Key Performance Indicator ASME American Society for Mechanical LEU Low Enriched Uranium Engineers Molybdenum-99 A radioactive isotope of molybdenum B-BBEE Broad-Based Black Economic MTEF Medium-Term Expenditure Framework Empowerment Necsa South African Nuclear Energy BBS Behaviour-Based Safety Corporation SOC Limited CHIETA Chemical Industries Education and NEHAWU National Education, Health and Allied Training Authority Workers Union CTBTO Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban NIASA Nuclear Industry Association of South Treaty Organisation Africa D&D Stage 1 Decontamination, Decommissioning NKP National Key Point and Waste Management of Disused NNR National Nuclear Regulator Historical Nuclear Facilities NQF National Qualifications Framework D&D Stage 2 Decontamination, Decommissioning and Waste Management of Operating NRF National Research Foundation Nuclear Facilities NRWDI National Radioactive Waste DIIR Disabling Injury Incidence Rate Disposal Institute DoE Department of Energy NTeMBI Nuclear Technologies in Medicine and the Biosciences Initiative DST Department of Science and Technology NuMeRI Nuclear Medicine Research dti Department of Trade and Industry Infrastructure EAP Employee Assistance Programme NVC Necsa Visitor Centre EE Employment Equity OSCAR Overall System for the Calculation of Reactors EXCO Executive Committee PFMA Public Finance Management Act GMP Good Manufacturing Practice PSIF Public Safety Information Forum HF Hydrogen fluoride PSMA Prostate-Specific Membrane Antigen IAEA International Atomic Energy Agency R&D Research and Development IAEA MSP International Atomic Energy Agency Membership Support Programme RPTC Radiation Protection Training Centre ICT Information and Communication SAFARI-1 South African Fundamental Atomic Technology Research Installation 2 Necsa Annual Report | 2018/2019FY General 1 Information ABOUT THIS INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT NECSA’S ORIGINS On 13 August 1944, the United Kingdom first requested South African’s assistance in obtaining uranium for the Manhattan Project. Post-World War II, interest in the extraction of uranium oxide continued from the USA and UK for both military and peaceful purposes. This led to the establishment in February 1946 of the “Uranium Research Committee” and in September 1948, the South African Atomic Energy Board (AEB) was constituted. Following international developments in nuclear power and radioisotope application, construction of the National Nuclear Research Centre, including the SAFARI-1 Research Reactor, started at Pelindaba in 1961. In 1970, the Uranium Enrichment Corporation (UCOR) NAME AND REGISTRATION NUMBER was created and tasked to establish a nuclear fuel cycle programme at Valindaba, adjacent to the then Pelindaba The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, trading site. The ostensible aim was to investigate the feasibility as Necsa, is a state owned company (SOC). of nuclear explosives for peaceful applications. However, in 1977 the emphasis changed to a strategic nuclear Registration number: 2000/003735/06 weapons deterrent capability and in November 1979 Holding Company: Department of Energy the first nuclear explosive device was equipped with Country of South Africa highly enriched uranium. Incorporation and Domicile: Application of nuclear fuel cyle technologies to civilian Physical and Elias Motsoaledi Street Extension Business Address: (Church Street West) R104 nuclear power generation started with construction of Pelindaba the “Z” Enrichment Plant in 1978. A fuel element Brits Magisterial District manufacturing facility supplying Koeberg Nuclear Power Madibeng Municipality Station started production in 1987. North West Province, 0240 Postal Address: PO Box 582, Meanwhile, the Nuclear Energy Act of 1982 renamed Pretoria, 0001 the AEB to NUCOR and combined it with UCOR under South Africa the Atomic Energy Corporation (AEC) as controlling body. Telephone Number: +27 12 305 4911 On 01 July 1985, the NUCOR and UCOR subsidiaries Fax Number: +27 12 305 3111 were combined into the AEC. Dismantling of the nuclear E-mail Address: [email protected] deterrent capability started in 1989. While civilian use Website Address: www.necsa.co.za of the nuclear fuel cycle facilities proved uncompetitive External Auditors: Auditor-General of South Africa post 1994 and were systematically shut down. A drive 300 Middel Street to industrialise technologies emanating from the nuclear New Muckleneuk, Pretoria programme was launched. In 1999, the current Nuclear Bankers: Nedbank Limited Energy Act transitioned the AEC to the South African 135 Rivonia Road Nuclear Energy Corporation -Necsa. Sandown, Sandton Company Secretary: Fulufhulani Corporate Governance and Legal Advisory (Pty)Ltd 105 Ninth Road Carlswald Midrand, Johannesburg, 1685 Enquiries regarding General Manager: Finance at this report: +27 12 305 5678/5707 or [email protected] 4 Necsa Annual Report | 2018/2019FY NECSA STRATEGY STRATEGIC OVERVIEW • Nuclear Manufacturing, and • Clean Energy. Our Vision LEGISLATIVE MANDATE The Necsa Group is a world leading nuclear technology organisation that adds significant value to the economy The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation is listed and quality of life of citizens. as a Major Public Entity in PFMA Schedule 2. The company’s legislative mandate in terms of Section 13 of Our Mission the Nuclear Energy Act, No. 46 of 1999, is to To develop and utilise nuclear technologies which make • Undertake and promote research and development a socio-economic impact through materials beneficiation in the field of nuclear energy and radiation sciences and commercialisation of technologies. This will and technology and, subject to the Safeguards be achieved through environmentally responsible Agreement, to make these generally available; application of core nuclear and related technologies. • Process source material, special nuclear material, and restricted material, and to reprocess and enrich Our Values source material as well as nuclear material; and • Foundational values – Integrity, Respect, and • Co -operate with any person or institution in Accountability; matters falling within these functions, subject to the approval of the Minister. • Business values – Excellence, Innovation, and Stakeholder Orientation; and Section 14
Recommended publications
  • South Africa's Impending Nuclear Plans
    Briefing Paper 290 May 2012 South Africa’s Impending Nuclear Plans "I think that the amount of money that has been allocated for the nuclear build is not a thumb­suck, and we don't actually think that is the end amount, but we believe that it is the beginning," Energy Minister Dipuo Peters 1. Int roduction 600 MW of new nuclear capacity to be completed between 2023 and 2030.1 The demand for energy continually increases with South Africa’s developing population and This briefing paper aims to highlight some of the economy. Nuclear power has been touted as one key considerations and debates around the of the solutions to meet this ever‐increasing expansion of nuclear power in South Africa. demand especially as, according to its However, government’s proposals are still proponents, it generates electricity in an subject to public participation processes, environmentally responsible manner. South environmental impact assessments and, no Africa’s only nuclear power plant, Koeberg, doubt, potential litigation. The fact that the situated 30km north of Cape Town, consists of finance minister made no reference in his budget two Pressurized Water Reactors better known as speech to the anticipated expenditure of at least EPR units. Each unit has a capacity of 920 R300 billion has added to uncertainty around megawatts (MW) and is cooled by sea‐water. In government’s intentions. It is thus not possible to this system, water inside a pressurised reactor is state with any certainty if, when or where these heated up by uranium fuel in the reactor. High plants will be built, or what they will ultimately temperature, high pressure water is then passed cost.
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Energy Rethink? the Rise and Demise of South Africa’S Pebble Bed Modular Reactor
    Nuclear energy rethink? The rise and demise of South Africa’s Pebble Bed Modular Reactor INTRODUCTION technology to help the US Department of Energy to construct its own version of the high-temperature reactor On 18 February 2010, public enterprises minister Barbara in the USA. Hogan announced that, in line with the 2010 budget, Before leaving the PBMR company, Kriek claimed the South African government had decided to cut its that government will make a decision about the future of financial support to Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (Pty) the PBMR in August 2010.6 This is likely to be part of a Ltd (hereafter the PBMR company). This has probably government pronouncement on nuclear policy in general. put paid to the company’s plans to build a demonstration While the PBMR company has suffered a body blow in model of a locally developed high temperature reactor, the removal of significant state finance, the spectre of its called the pebble bed modular reactor. Its name is such possible renaissance cannot entirely be ruled out for the because it uses a technology involving pebble-shaped moment. We therefore need to understand its history and fuel elements and can be constructed in multiples called prospects. modules. As a result of the curtailing of state funding the Originally the aim of the PBMR project was to deliver company has had to restructure, with plans to dismiss energy to industry and households, both locally and for over 75 per cent of its 800-strong workforce.1 The PBMR export. It was foreseen that it would export 20 reactors company had absorbed R8,67 billion of taxpayers’ money a year and build about ten for domestic use.
    [Show full text]
  • The Treaty of Pelindaba on the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone
    UNIDIR/2002/16 The Treaty of Pelindaba on the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Oluyemi Adeniji UNIDIR United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research Geneva, Switzerland NOTE The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Secretariat of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. * * * The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations Secretariat. UNIDIR/2002/16 Copyright © United Nations, 2002 All rights reserved UNITED NATIONS PUBLICATION Sales No. GV.E.03.0.5 ISBN 92-9045-145-9 CONTENTS Page Acknowledgements . vii Foreword by John Simpson . ix Glossary of Terms. xi Introduction. 1 Chapter 1 Evolution of Global and Regional Non-Proliferation . 11 Chapter 2 Nuclear Energy in Africa . 25 Chapter 3 The African Politico-Military Origins of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone . 35 Chapter 4 The Transition Period: The End of Apartheid and the Preparations for Negotiations . 47 Chapter 5 Negotiating and Drafting the Treaty (Part I): The Harare Meeting . 63 Chapter 6 Negotiating and Drafting the Treaty (Part II): The 1994 Windhoek and Addis Ababa Drafting Meetings, and References where Appropriate to the 1995 Johannesburg Joint Meeting . 71 Chapter 7 Negotiating and Drafting the Treaty (Part III): Annexes and Protocols . 107 Chapter 8 Negotiating and Drafting the Treaty (Part IV): Joint Meeting of the United Nations/OAU Group of Experts and the OAU Inter- Governmental Group, Johannesburg.
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Power
    RSA | R30.00 incl. VAT TheNuclear Power THE OFFICIAL MOUTHPIECE OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN INSTITUTE OF ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS i| JANUARY ssue 2013 wattnow | january 2013 | 1 “Our strength, your advantage” LETTERS 6 Letter from the SAIEE President - Mr Mike Cary. page 14 REGULARS 8 wattshot We showcase gadgets & gizmo's for everyone! 12 wattsup Showcasing social functions & events. page 20 18 Obituary Leslie Harry James - 01-10-1922 - 03-12-2012 58 Membership 61 Crossword - win R1000! 62 SAIEE Calendar of Events page 46 FEATURE 20 Nuclear Power in South Africa Electricity consumption in South Africa has been growing rapidly since 1980 and the country is part of the Southern African Power Pool (SAPP), with extensive interconnections. TECHNOLOGY page 54 30 Enhancing Services with Intelligent Automation We introduce and explain advances in software and hardware. POWER 40 MV Distribution Line Protection utilising Specialised Surge Arrestors Technology Service Excellence We take a look at surge arrestor products manufactured for medium voltage networks. TIS contributes to the success of the power, telecommunications and defence industries by ON A LIGHTER SIDE offering a wide range of products and turnkey solutions. This is complimented by providing 46 Living with an Engineer... network testing, auditing and training to our customers. A tongue-in-cheek look at Angela Price's life growing up, and living with, an engineer. Unit A, 59 Roan Crescent, Corporate Park North, Old Pretoria Road, Randjespark MEMORIES Ext 103, Midrand. PO Box 134, Olifantsfontein, 1665. 52 Reminiscing on an Electrical Engineering career Tel +27(0)11 635 8000 Fax +27(0)11 635 8100 From the pen of Bill Bergman.
    [Show full text]
  • NPR 1.1: a Chronology of South Africa's Nuclear Program
    A Chronology of South Africa's Nuclear Program by Zondi Masiza Zondi Masiza is a research assistant at the Program for Nonproliferation Studies. He is currently a US AID/Fulbright Scholar at the Monterey Institute for International Studies. Introduction nuclear explosives for the mining industry. The sense of urgency in developing a nuclear capability was sharpened The recent history of South Africa's nuclear program by the southward march of the African liberation presents an important and unprecedented case of a state that movement, which the South African government viewed as developed and then voluntarily relinquished nuclear inspired by the Soviet Union. South Africa conducted its weapons. As we near the 1995 NPT Extension Conference, nuclear weapons program in absolute secrecy. Very few the case of South Africa presents a significant example for government officials and even top Cabinet members knew the declared nuclear powers as well as for those considering of its existence. nuclear deployment. Nuclear weapons may not be the guarantors of regime security that they are purported to be Throughout the 1970s and the 1980s, the Group of 77 by some supporters. Indeed, there may be sound reasons pressured the IAEA to carry out inspections on South why other states in the future may also choose to relinquish African nuclear facilities, such as the pilot uranium them or, in other cases, choose not to develop them at all. enrichment plant. Allegations that South Africa had made preparations to conduct a nuclear test in the Kalahari desert This chronology is based on a survey of publicly-available in 1977 increased concern about the country's intentions.
    [Show full text]
  • SAFETY ASSESSEMENT for the TRANSPORTATION of NECSA's LILW to the VAALPUTS WASTE DISPOSAL Facility
    IYNC 2008 Interlaken, Switzerland, 20 – 26 September 2008 Paper No. 482 SAFETY ASSESSEMENT FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF NECSA'S LILW TO THE VAALPUTS WASTE DISPOSAL Facility Maphoto K.P.1, Raubenheimer E. 1, Swart H.1. 1Nuclear Liabilities Management, NECSA, P O Box 582, Pretoria, 0001, Republic of South Africa (RSA) ABSTRACT The transport safety assessment was carried out with a view to assess the impact on the environment and the people living in it, from exposure to radioactivity during transportation of the radioactive materials. It provides estimates of radiological risks associated with the envisaged transport scenarios for the road transport mode. This is done by calculating the human health impact and radiological risk from transportation of LILW along the R563 route, N14 and eventually to the Vaalputs National Waste Disposal Facility. Various parameters are needed by the RADTRAN code in calculating the human health impact and risk. These include: numbers of population densities following the routes undertaken, number of stops made, and the speed at which the transport will be traversing at towards the final destination. The human health impact with regard to the dose to the public, LCF and risk associated with transportation of Necsa’s LILW to the Vaalputs Waste Disposal Facility by road have been calculated using RADTRAN 5 code. The results for both accident and incident free scenarios have shown that the overall risks are insignificant and can be associated with any non-radiological transportation 1 INTRODUCTION The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) is planning to transport its Low and Intermediate Level Waste (LILW) material to the Vaalputs National Radioactive Waste Disposal Facility.
    [Show full text]
  • Davidfig@ Iafrica.Com
    EXPANDING THE NUCLEAR COMPONENT OF THE COUNTRY’S ENERGY MIX THE PROPOSAL IN THE IRP The IRP2 proposes that the nuclear component of the energy mix be expanded from around 5% to 14%. This involves a virtual tripling of the nuclear output in South Africa over the next 20 years. In practice this will mean an extra 4 to 6 reactors roughly the size of each of the Koeberg reactors. 1. INCREASING COSTS --- Nuclear 1 tendering process halted on the grounds of Eskom’s finances --- Nuclear construction industry notorious for cost and time overruns --- Price of nuclear does not include a number of externalities (pollution, health, liability, insurance, subsidies) --- Capital costs will create debt CURRENT AND PROJECTED COSTS IN 2030 OF ENERGY SOURCES, SOUTH AFRICA, IN 2010 US CENTS PER KILOWATT-HOUR (SOURCE: NERSA REFIT 2, OCT 2009) Energy source Current cost, 2010 Projected cost, 2030 Coal 8c 23c Nuclear 10c 24c Landfill gas 12.4c 10c Biogas 12.8c 12c Wind 17.2c 12.2c Biomass 16.3c 12.2c Open-cycle gas 34.6c 58.3c turbine Solar PV 54.3c 49.5c Concentrating solar 44c 26c 2. BAD TIMING --- New generation nuclear (EPR, AP1000) not yet operational --- EPR struggling in Finland (delay of 4yrs, cost overrun of €4bn), France --- Only 1 factory in the world for pressure vessels bottlenecks 3. REGULATORY PROBLEMS --- National Nuclear Regulator already overstretched, under-budgeted, short of skilled staff --- Independence questioned --- Unable to regulate mining wastes effectively Uranium One Mine, North-West Province Uranium Mill Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, Cape Town Pelindaba, near Pretoria, South Africa Vaalputs Nuclear Waste Disposal Facility, Namaqualand 4.
    [Show full text]
  • Nuclear Waste: Is It Really a Problem?
    Nuclear Waste: Is it really a problem? by Prof Philip Lloyd Produced by Nuclear Africa (Pty) Ltd for general public information. The image above is near the South African Nuclear Waste Repository. This seeming paradox lies behind most of medicine. A little Prof Philip can be good for you; a lot can harm. Take too much aspirin Lloyd has a PhD and you may die. But I, and many others with a history of heart in chemical engineering and disease, exist on a diet of around 80 mg aspirin a day. studied nuclear physics at MIT. After a career in the mining industry and engineering Nuclear Medicine construction management, he returned to South Africa is the second largest exporter of nuclear academic life and is now Adjunct medicine in the world. South African radioactive Professor at the isotopes for medical use are exported to some 60 Energy Research Unit of the countries. A very important factor is the logistics Cape Peninsula University of of transport. Speed and efficiency is of the utmost Technology. importance. The medical isotopes are intentionally designed to be short-lived, so it is very important to move them very rapidly from the nuclear reactor to the patient, no matter where in the world the patient may be. It is an oft-repeated truism that the Nuclear isotopes are used in two modes: diagnos- tically to detect medical problems such as tumours; disposal of nuclear waste is extremely and even to study a faulty heart valve opening challenging. Let us have a look at the and closing.
    [Show full text]
  • SAFARI-1 Safety Reassessment and Modifications in Light of Fukushima Daiichi Accident
    SAFARI-1 Safety Reassessment and Modifications in light of Fukushima Daiichi Accident Sammy Malaka NESCA, SAFARI-1 Research Reactor SOUTH AFRICA 18th IGORR Conference and IAEA Workshop on Safety Reassessment of Research Reactors in Light of the lessons Learned from Fukushima Daiichi Accident Sydney, Australia, 03 – 07 December 2017 CONTENTS 1. SAFARI-1 INTRODUCTION & OVERVIEW 2. SAFETY REASSESSMENT (SR) METHODOLOGY 3. SR RECOMMENDATIONS AND PROPOSED MODIFICATIONS 4. SAFETY CLASSIFICATION OF SSCS FOR DESIGN EXTENSION CONDITIONS 5. CONCLUSIONS Where is SAFARI-1 in South Africa? Rossing Uranium Mine Pelindaba, SAFARI-1 NNR Pelindaba Vaalputs Koeberg NPP ♦ Nuclear Medicine Centres SAFARI-1 OVERVIEW • SAFARI-1 20 MW Tank-in-Pool MTR reactor of ORR design – light water moderated and cooled, Be reflected. • The reactor has been in operation since 18 March1965 (~3 943 458 MWh) • Fully Core Converted to LEU in 2008-9 (LEU < 20%) • Highly utilised reactor (>300 FPD/Year) for over 15 years • Primary activities: Isotope production; NTD Si doping and beam port research & ET • Significant Investment in the ageing management program of SAFARI-1, to ensure safe continued operation > objective to operate beyond 2030 4 SAFARI-1 Safety Reassessment (SR) Following the Fukushima nuclear accident in March 2011, a directive from South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) was received which required a SR of the SAFARI-1 research reactor (RR) The SR consisted of: Evaluation of the response of the SAFARI-1 RR when facing a set of extreme external events
    [Show full text]
  • Highly Enriched Uranium Production for South African Nuclear Weapons
    Science <I:Global Security, 1994, Volume 4, pp.33-48 Photocopying permitted by license only Reprints available directly from the publisher o 1994 Gonion and Breach Science Publishel'B SA Printed in the United States of America Highly Enriched Uranium Production for South African Nuclear Weapons Weestimate that South Africaproduced 735± 53 kilograms ofthe equivalent of 90 per- cent-highly enriched uranium (HEU). This amount, were it enriched to 80 to 90 per- cent, could be used to construct 12 Hiroshima-type fission bombs. The South African government maintains it constructed only six such devices,and never intended to con- struct more than seven. The excess HEU was apparently less enriched than that desired by South Africafor its weapons, but probably still weapons-usable. Implosion- type devices were apparently being researched at the time the nuclear weapons pro- gram was dismantled in 1989. Had this effort continued, eventually South Africa would have been able to construct four times as many weapons from the same amount of fissile material. Because of a 15.6 percent uncertainty in the tails assay, the two standard deviation uncertainty in the amount of U-235 in the HEU produced is 256 kilograms. It is in the interest of all parties to reduce this uncertainty. South Afri~a decided to build a nuclear weapons program in 1974. The first of six gun assembly •.type nuclear weapons was constructed using South African- produced highly enriched uranium. In 1989, South Africa decided to accede to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and dismantle its nuclear weapons program.
    [Show full text]
  • Pelindaba Treaty
    THE TREA T Y OF PELINDABA Towards the Full Implementation of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty Noël Stott, Senior Research Fellow, Institute for Security Studies As a leading African human security research institution, the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) works towards a stable and peaceful Africa characterised by sustainable development, human rights, the rule of law, democracy and collaborative security. The ISS realises this vision by: • Undertaking applied research, training and capacity building • Working collaboratively with others • Facilitating and supporting policy formulation • Monitoring trends and policy implementation • Collecting, interpreting and disseminating information • Networking on national, regional and international levels © 2011, Institute for Security Studies Copyright in the volume as a whole is vested in the Institute for Security Studies, and no part may be reproduced in whole or in part without the express permission, in writing, of both the authors and the publishers. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Institute, its trustees, members of the Council or donors. Authors contribute to ISS publications in their personal capacity. ISBN 978-1-920422-45-5 First published by the Institute for Security Studies, P O Box 1787, Brooklyn Square 0075 Pretoria, South Africa www.issafrica.org Printing: Marketing Support Services +27 12 346-2168 THE TREA T Y OF PELINDABA Towards the Full Implementation of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty Noël Stott, Senior Research Fellow,
    [Show full text]
  • Research Report Proliferation Risk Assessment of Former Nuclear
    Research Report UNIVERSITY OF PRETORIA GRADUATE SCHOOL OF TECHNOLOGY MANAGEMENT Research Report Proliferation Risk Assessment of Former Nuclear Explosives/Weapons Program Personnel: The South African Case Study 21 July 2007 ________________________________________________________________ This research project was supported by the University of Pretoria and the Ploughshares Fund in the USA. The Ploughshares Fund is a public grant-making foundation that supports organizations and individuals working to stop the spread of weapons of war, from nuclear arms to landmines and build regional security. www.ploughshares.org _________________________________________________________________________________ © University of Pretoria 21 July 2007 1 Research Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This research provides detailed information on the fate of South Africa's former Nuclear Explosives/Weapons Program (NEWP) personnel after the termination of the program in 1991. Some of the findings of the study were that there is a strong and direct association between the type of post-termination employment and mode of termination of employment of former NEWP personnel. Only a few (10%) of those that resigned were unemployed or went into retirement. The majority (63%) of those that were retrenched or retired was unemployed or went into retirement. The study also found a strong association between the personal income and the type of employment of the former NEWP personnel after leaving the program. The income of most (78%) of those that joined another firm increased or was unchanged. The income of most (58%) of those that were transferred was unchanged, and the income of the majority (84%) of those that became unemployed, retired or started their own businesses declined. A major finding of this research is therefore that many of South Africa's former NEWP personnel suffered financially after termination of the program.
    [Show full text]