South African Department Of Energy Nuclear

South African Department Of Energy Nuclear

South African Department Of Energy Nuclear

The mandate of the Department of Energy is to administer all matters related to nuclear energy as required by legislation and international agreements. These can be divided into three key activities, namely Nuclear Safety, Nuclear Technology, and Nuclear Non-Proliferation.

Nuclear energy, technology and safety policies facilitate the integration of the nuclear sector in various facets of South African society. These policies position the South African industry to be world-class leaders in various fields of nuclear expertise.
The nuclear sector in South Africa is mainly governed by the Nuclear Energy Act 1999, Act 46 of 1999 and National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute Act, Act 53 of 2008. National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) Act 1999, Act 47 of 1999. These Acts are administered by the Department of Energy.
Other legislation that also have some relevance for the nuclear industry are the Hazardous Substances Act, the Non-Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction Act, the Patent Act, the National Strategic Intelligence Act, the National Key Points Act, the Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist and Related Activities Act, the Mine Health and Safety Act, the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Act, the National Environmental Management Act, the National Water Act and the Dumping at Sea Control Act.
South Africa has two nuclear reactors generating 6 percent of its electricity. Its first commercial nuclear power reactor began operating in 1984. The government’s commitment to the future of nuclear energy is strong.
The South African nuclear sector employs about 2 700 people. The Koeberg Nuclear Power Station contributes about 6 percent of total electricity, and earned more than R1,5-billion from uranium exports in the past five years. The Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa’s (NECSA) direct commercial sales amount to about R300-million a year.