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Date : 27/11/2006
Source: Department of Minerals and Energy
Title: Sonjica: Powering Africa Nuclear Option Executive meeting


Speech by Ms BP Sonjica, MP, Minister of Minerals and Energy at the Powering Africa: the Nuclear Option Executive meeting in Cape Town

Programme director,
Honourable ministers,
Distinguished guests,
Senior government officials,
Ladies and gentlemen,

Allow me to welcome you to South Africa and indeed to Cape Town and extend to you, one and all, warm and hearty greetings to this Executive meeting. I am pleased to see my counterparts from the rest of the continent and so many other international participants at a time when we are grappling with issues of expansion of energy supply to the inhabitants of our beloved continent.

Energy security is indeed one of the most pressing challenges that governments in this continent and the world-over have to confront. We all are fully conscious of the fact that energy security is indispensable to the maintenance and improvement of the quality of the lives of our people. Whilst energy demand is increasing, the contribution of some primary energy sources to climate change presents us with challenges. There is wide recognition for the need to diversify energy supply by developing advanced, non-polluting, more efficient, affordable and cost-effective energy technologies, including renewable energy technologies to meet the rising global demand for energy, particularly in our own developing countries. This environmental concern has resulted in a number of countries to reconsider the nuclear energy option for a range of energy applications. Indeed this environmental concern has contributed to the renaissance in nuclear energy worldwide.

I believe that nuclear energy should and must form part of any consideration of security of supply of energy. The role of governments in facilitating the success of nuclear energy is clear. Governments need to provide leadership including ensuring that clear and unambiguous policies are developed, which will create an enabling environment for the exploitation of this energy source.

How are we to respond as Africa? We, in the continent possess significant uranium resources; therefore we have to make every effort to ensure that Africans derive not only monetary value from exports of uranium ore but actually make use of the energy from this mineral resource. This, however, is going to require deliberate and calculated planning on the part of leaders of the continent. We will require strategic partnerships from those who have extensive nuclear programmes. I need to emphasise the "partnerships" because we will be looking for mutual benefit. South Africa is indeed poised to make a decision on a significant nuclear energy programme as part of the new investment into new electricity generation capacity. We are already busy with the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) this implies that we are interested in new forms of energy.

A nuclear energy programme requires extensive infrastructure and huge investment in skills. I believe that for this continent it may be beneficial for regional approaches to be adopted in building this infrastructure. At the 50th International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference, we announced that South Africa was considering the establishment of a Regional Nuclear and Radiation Safety Regulatory Forum to assist in strengthening regulatory effectiveness on a regional basis. The aims of this forum would be to ensure the strengthening of regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, as well as harmonisation of safety standards in the region.

The National Nuclear Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) is already engaged in preliminary discussions with their Nigerian counterparts on how such a forum can be constituted. Surely we will consult so that there is consensus as to how this forum will be constituted. As part of regional capacity building, we will be hosting the postgraduate course in Radiation Protection which will begin in July next year. We are also in discussions with the IAEA about hosting a regional physical protection (security) course during the course of 2007. These are small contributions that we want to make to nuclear infrastructure development on the continent.

Through the African Regional Co-operative Agreement (AFRA), we have already demonstrated that in working together, we can achieve a lot more progress in this sector. We have made strides in the promotion of national and regional self-reliance in nuclear science and technology, the conditioning and safe storage of spent radium medium sources and the auditing of nuclear medicine and radiotherapy facilities as Africans.

The Achilles heel of nuclear energy has always been around issues of long-term Radioactive Waste Management. I would venture to say that technical solutions for radioactive waste management exist and have been proven. What is required is the political will to make decisions and the incorporation of the views of the members of the public, in doing so. This can be very challenging. There is much concern about this activity, especially with environmental activists.

Last year we published the Radioactive Waste Management Policy and Strategy. We are now finalising the drafting of one of the pieces of legislation that will give effect to the policy provisions. I am pleased to announce here, for the first time, that with the approval of the President and our Parliament, South Africa has recently deposited to the IAEA, the instrument of accession to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. These two developments should serve as a strong signal that as government, we are serious about dealing with Radioactive Waste Management.

One aspect of nuclear energy that cannot be overemphasised is the need for all countries to adhere to their obligations in terms of the Non Proliferation Treaty. We have to leave no doubt that as we embark on nuclear energy programmes that they are solely for peaceful purposes. Having said that, I need to reiterate the fact that concerns over proliferation should not be used to deny others the opportunity of deriving benefits from this technology. An international debate on fuel cycle facilities has already started and we need to involve ourselves in this debate in order to ensure that the result is equitable. Perhaps, it is time that we work collectively towards ensuring that the Pelindaba Treaty does come into force to further illustrate our commitment to peaceful uses of nuclear energy. As Africa we need this technology.

Let me thank the organisers, principally, EnergyNet Limited and our sponsors for putting together this meeting. I believe that we will have more meetings of this nature in other parts of the continent. The programme indeed covers a wide range of topics. In the discussions, I hope that the issues of radioactive waste management will also be deliberated upon. I also have to thank our sponsors. You are indeed investing in the future of this continent.

As I conclude, I need to make an apology. I have just returned from a trip abroad specifically to be in this meeting, however, I have to leave this evening for the final leg of my month long international engagements. I therefore will not be able to enjoy the evening dinner with you.

I wish you success in the deliberations and let us work towards ensuring that Africa's renaissance is anchored in Africa forming an integral part of the expansion of the nuclear energy sector.

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
27 November 2006

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