Pelindaba
Pelindaba is South Africa's main nuclear research centre, located about 33 km west of Pretoria in the North West province. The facility is operated by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), a State-owned entity responsible for nuclear research and development, the processing of nuclear materials, and the production of radioisotopes. Pelindaba was established in the 1960s and became the focal point of South Africa's nuclear programme, including uranium enrichment activities. The site houses a range of nuclear facilities, including research reactors, laboratories, and uranium-enrichment plants. During the apartheid era, Pelindaba was central to South Africa's nuclear-weapons programme, which was voluntarily dismantled in the early 1990s before the country acceded to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1991. Today, the facility focuses on peaceful nuclear applications, including the production of medical isotopes, research into advanced nuclear technologies, and support for South Africa's nuclear energy sector. Pelindaba's infrastructure and expertise position it as a strategic asset in discussions around uranium enrichment, small modular reactors, and the production of high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU) for next-generation nuclear power. The site is regulated by the National Nuclear Regulator, which oversees safety, security, and compliance with national and international nuclear standards. Pelindaba remains a key node in South Africa's nuclear industry and a point of interest for international partnerships in nuclear technology and fuel-cycle services.
Pelindaba Updates
Necsa to tender for new multi-purpose research reactor
By: Reuters 24th March 2026 South African nuclear energy firm Necsa will soon launch the next phase of a tender for a new multi-purpose research reactor aimed at maintaining... →
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