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The Minister of Energy, Ms Tina Joemat-Pettersson, arrived in Vienna, Austria, where she will lead a high level South African delegation to the 58th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) taking place from Monday, 22 September. The conference will discuss the status of nuclear power and technologies in the world and matters related to nuclear safety, nuclear security and technical cooperation.

The IAEA’s latest report on the status of nuclear power, which will be presented at the conference, makes the following observations:

• There are 435 nuclear power reactors in operation in 30 countries.
• As of July 2014 there were 72 reactors under construction in 15 countries.
• Countries with nuclear power reactors under construction include Argentina, Brazil, China, India, Russia, Finland, France, Korea, Pakistan, Slovakia, Ukraine and the United States.
• The report notes that South Africa is one of four countries currently planning to build new nuclear power plants. Others are the United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada and Iran.

Minister Joemat-Pettersson will address the conference on Monday, 22 September. In her speech she will highlight developments in the nuclear sector in South Africa and the country’s experience with the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

For many years South Africa has been efficiently operating the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in the Western Cape, as well as the SAFARI research reactor in Pelindaba near Pretoria.

Nuclear technology has been used in South Africa in other fields such as water, agriculture and human health. Nuclear technology was used to contain the spread of Tsetse flies in Kwazulu Natal. It has also been utilised to fight fruit flies in the Western Cape province saving jobs and exports.

The Minister will also inform the conference about South Africa’s expertise in producing radioisotopes that are used in a range of medical procedures, including the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. South Africa, through NECSA subsidiary NTP, produces radioisotopes that are used in more than 10 million medical procedures in 60 countries around the world annually.

“The IAEA’s annual conference is the key gathering that allows us to interact and share experiences with global stakeholders in the nuclear field. South Africa has a good story to tell in this area underpinned by decades of experience with nuclear technology,” said Minister Joemat-Pettersson.

The South African delegation includes South Africa’s Ambassador to the IAEA, Mr Tebogo Seokolo, Chief Executive Officers of Necsa, the National Nuclear Regulator and senior managers of Eskom and the Department of Energy.

Issued by: Department of Energy