Daily Archives: March 7, 2022

AGENDA ITEM 2: NUCLEAR AND RADIATION SAFETY: NUCLEAR SAFETY REVIEW 2022 

Mr Chairman

South Africa aligns itself with the statements delivered by the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of Morocco on behalf of the Group of 77 and China as well as the statement read on behalf of the African Group. 

We thank the Director General and his team for the report. My delegation fully supports the priorities and activities identified in the report for 2022 in the area of nuclear safety. Our National Nuclear Regulator and its Centre for Nuclear Safety and Security (CNSS) is available to support the IAEA in its planned activities in the implementaiton of these objectives and will surely provide inputs before the deadline of the 11 April for consideration. 

South Africa reaffirms the principle that the nuclear safety, rests entirely in the hands and responsibility of that state. We are also grateful for the IAEA’s continued support to Member States in this important area. 

South Africa is strongly committed to the fulfilment of our international legal obligations, including under the Convention of Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. In addition, we call on all Member States to reiterate their commitment to protection of humankind against nuclear accidents and incidents through the full implementation of these instruments as well as the Geneva Conventions and Protocols. 

Furthermore, as a major producer and exporter of radioactive sources, South Africa endorsed the multilateral Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and its associated Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources. 

Our commitment to these instruments is evidenced by our track record of operating one of the world’s oldest and best run nuclear power plants and research reactors. 

Mr Chairman 

We have noted with satisfaction the growing interest among Member States to improve their ability to respond quickly and effectively to nuclear and radiological emergencies and the support the Agency is providing to Member States in this regard. 

In South Africa our National Nuclear Regulator is continuously working to strengthen the country’s Emergency Planning and Preparedness, especially in light of the long term operation of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant and the planned decommissioning and replacement of the  SAFARI research reactors. The maintenance and protection of public health and the health and well being of the environment is of utmost importance to South Africa and we will continue to work with the IAEA to strengthen our nuclear safety regulations and provisions. This is also important in the management and disposal of nuclear and radiological waste. 

Mr Chairman, 

My delegation has also noted with interest that the IAEA’s training activities have continued to expand, despite the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the use of webinars that has reached over 6000 participants in 2021. 

As the report points out, human resource development, skills transfer, training and education is essential for sustaining the safe operation of nuclear facilities such as nuclear power plants and research reactors. In South Africa’s case, the nuclear industry’s human resources is ageing and facing retirement, that can lead to the loss of experience, which could adversely affect the safe operation of our various programmes. We therefore welcome these training programmes especially for our youth and women in particular. 

In closing, South Africa looks forward to working with the IAEA in the year ahead as we slowly return to normal, including in engaging on the safe operation of new technologies such as Small Modular Reactors and the long term operation of nuclear power and research reactors. We are also committed to working with all Member States as we prepare the resolutions for this year’s General Conference, including the Nuclear and Radiation Safety resolution, which is an essential policy document guiding our activities moving forward. 

With these remarks, South Africa takes not of document GOV/2022/3. 

AGENDA ITEM 3: STRENGTHENING THE AGENCY’S ACTIVITIES RELATED TO NUCLEAR SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND APPLICATIONS: NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY REVIEW 2022 

Mr Chair, 

1. My delegation associates itself with the statements delivered by the African Group as well as the G77 and China. Similarly, we associate ourselves with the earlier joint-statement delivered on behalf of the Co-Chairs of the Friends of ReNuAL. South Africa would like to make the following additional remarks, in its national capacity.

Mr Chair, 

2. South Africa thanks the Director General for presenting the Nuclear Technology Review 2022 which highlights the positive role that peaceful uses of nuclear energy continues to play in various fields including nuclear power, human health, food and agriculture, the environment and radioisotopes and radiation technology.

3. South Africa recognises nuclear power as a stable and resilient low-carbon source of energy, as such, nuclear power is an integral part of South Africa’s energy mix. Pursuant to our Nuclear New Build Programme, the National Energy Regulator of South Africa, issued its concurrence with the ministerial determination on the procurement of 2500 megawatts new generation capacity in September 2021. We are now developing the Procurement Framework and designing a competitive bidding process which will contain a well-defined road map that will guide our procurement process. The IAEA’s expertise as well as its documented supportive processes including the Generic User Requirements and Criteria (GURC) will serve as valuable resources in guiding our activities.

4. South Africa has made good progress towards extending the original forty years life span of the two units in the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant by another 20 years. In this regard, the Regulator has accepted the Long-Term Operation (LTO) license application and the LTO safety case will be delivered in July 2022. Similarly, the Steam Generator Replacement project is progressing well. South Africa looks forward to the next SALTO peer review session following the postponement of the session originally planned for January 2022.

5. Furthermore, our research Reactor SAFARI – 1, which is one of the four largest producers of medical isotopes and ranks high amongst the best operated research reactors in the world, will reach the end of its operational life shortly. My government has since decided to replace SAFARI – 1 with a new Multipurpose Reactor. To this end a multidisciplinary team has been established to coordinate this project. We looks forward to cooperating with Agency in this endeavor. 

Mr Chair, 

6. South Africa fully supports Rays of Hope – the new initiative launched on the margins of the AU Summit on World Cancer Day. The establishment and expansion of radiotherapy and diagnostic facilities is integral in combatting the cancer scourge that plagues our continent and South African experts, institutions and facilities remain at the Agency’s disposal to provide capacity building, training, and support.

7. Nuclear Medicine continues to be at the forefront of combating cancer; and with Steve Biko Academic Hospital, as the leading African (Nuclear Medicine) hospital with world-renowned expertise in Theranostics and the hospital being global leader in the treatment of prostate cancer – South Africa welcomes the Agency’s support to Member States in establishing facilities and providing training on Theranostics. With the Agency’s assistance, South Africa has successfully implemented radio-theranostics in several cancers, and we further applaud the Agency for its continued work in developing new techniques in this regard.

8. On Food and Agriculture, South Africa takes this opportunity to thank the Agency and AFRA with entrusting us with hosting the Second Africa Food Safety Workshop and the Regional Meeting on Food Safety. We look forward to fruitful discussions and concrete outcomes.  

9. South Africa welcomes the Artificial Intelligence for Nuclear Sciences and Applications section in the NTR and my delegation perceives A.I. as an opportunity and stimulus for the further development of Nuclear Sciences and Applications. We are proud to inform that a South African is currently conducting their PhD on applying machine learning schemes for optimising the fuel loading for nuclear reactors, which will further help to improve their safety and utilisation.

Mr Chair, 

10. My Delegation attaches great significance to the important role women and youth play in the nuclear field globally. South Africa remains fully supportive of the activities taken to achieve gender mainstreaming and in the week of International Women’s Day (8 March), we urge the Secretariat to continue to apply youth and gender best practices when conducting and hosting workshops and training courses.

11. In conclusion, my delegation wishes to remind Member States that one of the core reasons for the existence of the IAEA is to assist Member States to reap the benefits of nuclear technology. All humanity should be able to utilise the technology for socio-economic development in support of the UN Sustainable Development goals  

With these remarks, South Africa takes note of the report. Thank you. 

AGENDA ITEM 2: NUCLEAR AND RADIATION SAFETY: NUCLEAR SAFETY REVIEW 2022 

Mr Chairman 

South Africa aligns itself with the statements delivered by the distinguished representative of the Kingdom of Morocco on behalf of the Group of 77 and China as well as the statement read on behalf of the African Group. 

We thank the Director General and his team for the report. My delegation fully supports the priorities and activities identified in the report for 2022 in the area of nuclear safety. Our National Nuclear Regulator and its Centre for Nuclear Safety and Security (CNSS) is available to support the IAEA in its planned activities in the implementaiton of these objectives and will surely provide inputs before the deadline of the 11 April for consideration. 

South Africa reaffirms the principle that the nuclear safety, rests entirely in the hands and responsibility of that state. We are also grateful for the IAEA’s continued support to Member States in this important area. 

South Africa is strongly committed to the fulfilment of our international legal obligations, including under the Convention of Nuclear Safety and the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management. In addition, we call on all Member States to reiterate their commitment to protection of humankind against nuclear accidents and incidents through the full implementation of these instruments as well as the Geneva Conventions and Protocols. 

Furthermore, as a major producer and exporter of radioactive sources, South Africa endorsed the multilateral Code of Conduct on the Safety and Security of Radioactive Sources and its associated Guidance on the Import and Export of Radioactive Sources. 

Our commitment to these instruments is evidenced by our track record of operating one of the world’s oldest and best run nuclear power plants and research reactors. 

Mr Chairman 

We have noted with satisfaction the growing interest among Member States to improve their ability to respond quickly and effectively to nuclear and radiological emergencies and the support the Agency is providing to Member States in this regard. 

In South Africa our National Nuclear Regulator is continuously working to strengthen the country’s Emergency Planning and Preparedness, especially in light of the long term operation of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant and the planned decommissioning and replacement of the  SAFARI research reactors. The maintenance and protection of public health and the health and well being of the environment is of utmost importance to South Africa and we will continue to work with the IAEA to strengthen our nuclear safety regulations and provisions. This is also important in the management and disposal of nuclear and radiological waste. 

Mr Chairman, 

My delegation has also noted with interest that the IAEA’s training activities have continued to expand, despite the limitations of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the use of webinars that has reached over 6000 participants in 2021. 

As the report points out, human resource development, skills transfer, training and education is essential for sustaining the safe operation of nuclear facilities such as nuclear power plants and research reactors. In South Africa’s case, the nuclear industry’s human resources is ageing and facing retirement, that can lead to the loss of experience, which could adversely affect the safe operation of our various programmes. We therefore welcome these training programmes especially for our youth and women in particular. 

In closing, South Africa looks forward to working with the IAEA in the year ahead as we slowly return to normal, including in engaging on the safe operation of new technologies such as Small Modular Reactors and the long term operation of nuclear power and research reactors. We are also committed to working with all Member States as we prepare the resolutions for this year’s General Conference, including the Nuclear and Radiation Safety resolution, which is an essential policy document guiding our activities moving forward. 

With these remarks, South Africa takes not of document GOV/2022/3.