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Necsa today informed Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Energy that it is ready to support South Africa's nuclear new build programme using its existing capacities.  During the visit of the Committee to Necsa's Pelindaba site, near Tshwane, the Chief Executive Officer, Mr Phumzile Tshelane, said that Necsa possesses nuclear standard manufacturing capabilities.

Recently the company has exported nuclear reaction chambers to Russia. It has also supplied products to other international clients such as France’s Areva and Alstom. Necsa manufactured components for the Medupi and Kusile coal-fired power stations.

Tshelane said that Necsa would support localization as part of ensuring that the new build programme results in the development of a nuclear industry in South Africa.  Necsa also runs an acclaimed Learning Academy where it annually graduates engineers, artisans and other technically skilled personnel.

Tshelane said "we are proud of the contribution we are making already in developing critical skills for South Africa, which will also be relevant to the new build programme".  In response to a question on the costs of the new build the Necsa CEO again brushed aside the one trillion rands figure saying it was unrealistic in global comparison.

Necsa has also undertaken feasibility studies on the production and supply of nuclear fuel to the envisaged fleet of nuclear reactors to be procured by South Africa. This would ensure that South Africa is self-sufficient and does not depend for nuclear fuel supplies on the few current global suppliers.

The company is a key player and a global leader in nuclear medicine, exporting life saving medical isotopes to more than 60 countries.  

Members of the Portfolio Committee toured the Necsa site visiting the training and manufacturing facilities, as well as the nuclear medicine and the fluorine plants.

Issued by The South African Nuclear Energy