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Date : 25/08/2006
Source: Department of Minerals and Energy
Title: Sonjica: Young Nuclear Professionals Society Launch


  Keynote address delivered by the Minister of Minerals and Energy, Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, at the launch of the South African Young Nuclear Professionals Society (SAYNPS)

Programme Director,
Leaders from nuclear stakeholder organisations,
Members of the South African Young Nuclear Professional Society,
Representatives of the various spheres of government,
Honourable guests,
Ladies and gentlemen

Good evening!

Just over six weeks ago we commemorated 30 years of the gallantry of the youth of 1976 who barehanded, decided to take on one of the most brutal systems that humanity has ever faced. Indeed we were celebrating their sacrifices, which in no small measure contributed to the birth of our 12-year-old democracy.

It is indeed heartening to be here at an event that has been spearheaded by another generation of the youth, which is determined to tackle yet other challenges: poverty, unemployment and the dearth of skills being the main ones. I salute the South African Young Nuclear Professionals Society for the steps that you have taken in organising yourselves into a disciplined force for the development of nuclear technology in South Africa.

I am told that the SAYNPS boasts no less than 200 young nuclear professionals most of whom are highly qualified and this in itself is an achievement that has to be celebrated. Your planned outreach programmes to schools and tertiary institutions shows a visionary approach. This launch comes at time when we are grappling with the issue of expanding the role of nuclear technology in our country. The expansion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy worldwide is looking more and more irreversible. Recent events worldwide continue to demonstrate that energy is the lifeblood of economies of the world.

The nuclear energy industry in South Africa, although relatively small, plays an important role in our country. It employs approximately 3 500 people and accounts for sizeable foreign exchange earnings mainly through the export of uranium oxide by the Nuclear Fuels Corporation of South Africa (NUFCOR) and medical isotopes and fluorochemical products by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA). In addition to these contributions, the Koeberg nuclear power station accounts for approximately 6% of our electricity generation, which is otherwise mainly from coal ensuring that the air quality around Cape Town is not impacted negatively by electricity generation. Clearly there is potential in this country and this continent for us to look at ways of increasing the role nuclear technology plays in our economies.

I believe that nuclear energy is going to play a significant role in fulfilling the world’s energy needs. Already countries like China and India are building a number of nuclear power plants and the Russian Federation has recently announced a massive new nuclear building programme, which will result in them adding 2 000 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power every year until 2030. It is my view that by 2030 South Africa should have added at the very least, another 5 000 MW of nuclear energy to fulfil our electricity needs. This is not an insignificant task taking into account that this means building between four and six new nuclear reactors. I certainly believe that the Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) will definitely contribute to that new nuclear build. A nuclear build programme of that magnitude also requires us to look at the fuel, which in this case is provided by uranium. South Africa possesses enough uranium reserves to fuel such a nuclear energy programme. Recent trends point to a continuing increase in the uranium price in the market.

As a broad policy approach the South African government is strongly encouraging the beneficiation of our minerals resources; and I am of the view that the mining community of South Africa must take advantage of the uranium price increase, the increased viability of domestic value-addition to uranium, and begin to refocus their efforts on the comprehensive development of this resource for peaceful purposes. I therefore believe that the time has come for South Africa to conduct a cost benefit analysis into the beneficiation of uranium. I will soon be making certain announcements in this regard. It goes without saying that beneficiation of uranium comes with its own responsibilities and sensitivities and we would pursue this within our national and international obligations.

To sustain a nuclear industry a country requires robust national institutions. I believe that in this country we have now laid a good foundation for excellence in our nuclear institutions. We however have a challenge in ensuring that we retain the talent we have in these institutions and also continue to attract, rapidly develop and deploy young talent into this industry. SAYNPS working together with employers must ensure that skills transfer takes place rapidly. Skills transfer is by the way a two-way process. There must be a willing coach, and a willing learner.

I cannot complete my speech without tackling one of the challenges that still confronts our society. Earlier today, I led my department and other stakeholders in the minerals and energy sector to celebrate some of the gains that have been made by women, but more importantly to reflect on the challenges ahead and to re-issue the clarion call for all to make gender equality a reality in our workplaces and in our homes now. I was heartened to see that women in this sector too, have organised themselves under the banner of Women in Nuclear South Africa (WINSA). The cause of the SAYNPS cannot be complete without Women IN Nuclear (WINSA).

What then are my expectations of SAYNPS?

* First and foremost the sector that you are in requires a high degree of skills.
* You must ensure that you equip yourselves with all the requisite skills and gain expertise in at least one of the disciplines within the sector.
* I also expect you to be a disciplined cadre of skilled nuclear professionals.
* Maintaining unity of purpose will also go a long way in ensuring that you achieve your goals.
* You must become champions of the nuclear sector and role models for aspirant nuclear professionals.
* Your work must yield tangible results and you need to meet regularly to objectively and critically review progress.

To the employers, I expect that the youth will be given the necessary support in this initiative. They are the future of this industry and you must empower them and impart the necessary skills to enable them to run an efficient nuclear sector. I would like employers to focus in particular on accelerated but structured skills transfer processes.

In a few minutes, I will witness the commitment of the Heads of Nuclear Institutions to the SAYNPS initiative. In conclusion, I would like to take this opportunity to also thank the organisers for a job well done. I wish to also thank the nuclear sector employers for the support they have shown to SAYNPS initiative. I also would like to thank our partner department, the Department of Science and Technology, for their support of the January workshop where this initiative was concretised.

The Department of Minerals and Energy will continue to support SAYNPS, but we will also be monitoring progress very strongly. I wish you well!

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
25 August 2006

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