The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) this week officially unveiled a new training centre that would “catapult” South Africa’s nuclear protection status to new levels, said the centre’s acting CEO Xolisa Mabhongo.

The DTI contributed R3-million towards laboratory equipment to train radiation protection officers (RPOs) at the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation’s (Necsa’s) Radiation Protection Training Centre, in Pelindaba, in the North West province.

The centre, which had already trained hundreds of RPOs since operations started in March 2013, aimed to contribute to the creation of employment, equity and enterprise development in the nuclear industry and other industries such as medical, mining, security, agriculture, standards, research and development and environmental protection.

“The potential of this training centre is enormous and we are certain that it will create many new opportunities, not only for Necsa, but South Africa and Africa as a whole, by introducing more people to this industry and introducing even more skilled personnel into the sector,” Mabhongo said.

Training in radiation protection could open doors to various possible careers.

Trade and Industry Minister Dr Rob Davies added that there were a variety of applications of radiation technologies across industries, including agriculture and manufacturing, but the ability to be able to effectively roll out the use of these technologies depended on the country’s ability to be able to operate these technologies safely.

“Although nuclear energy is beneficial in a number of ways, there are high levels of risk and accidents that can happen,” he explained.