THE Department of Energy wants to clarify recent reports about the role of the Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA (Necsa) and the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) in the nuclear expansion programme.
On March 23, Necsa and the NNR told Parliament's portfolio committee on energy that they had not been included at all in the inter-ministerial committee that was supposed to oversee the programme that could cost the country anywhere between R30-billion and R-trillion over the next few years.
Both Necsa, which is a state-owned enterprise mandated for the development of uranium enrichment capabilities, and the NNR, which is mandated to ensure nuclear safety, bemoaned the fact that a combination of funding constraints and a lack of consultation meant they had little or no idea of what the nuclear building programme would entail.
They also indicated that they would not necessarily have the right people or equipment in place should the 2014 time line for the start of the build programme be adhered to.
The DoE said it had ensured that the two state entities were involved in the development of the nuclear expansion programme in line with their respective mandates.
To this end Necsa developed the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Strategy to support the Nuclear Power Programme.
Since 2008 Necsa has conducted several pre-feasibility studies as mandated in the Nuclear Energy Policy of 2008.
The studies have been submitted to the DoE, while regular quarterly and annual progress updates were reported to the minister and DoE, as required by the Public Finance Management Act.
The NNR and Necsa had been part of the government-led integrated nuclear infrastructure review (INIR) team since November 2010.
This comprehensive infrastructure review process was being conducted in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency Milestones Approach.
Roles of energy bodies clarified
THE Department of Energy wants to clarify recent reports about the role of the Nuclear Energy Corporation of SA (Necsa) and the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) in the nuclear expansion programme.
On March 23, Necsa and the NNR told Parliament's portfolio committee on energy that they had not been included at all in the inter-ministerial committee that was supposed to oversee the programme that could cost the country anywhere between R30-billion and R-trillion over the next few years.
Both Necsa, which is a state-owned enterprise mandated for the development of uranium enrichment capabilities, and the NNR, which is mandated to ensure nuclear safety, bemoaned the fact that a combination of funding constraints and a lack of consultation meant they had little or no idea of what the nuclear building programme would entail.
They also indicated that they would not necessarily have the right people or equipment in place should the 2014 time line for the start of the build programme be adhered to.
The DoE said it had ensured that the two state entities were involved in the development of the nuclear expansion programme in line with their respective mandates.
To this end Necsa developed the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Strategy to support the Nuclear Power Programme.
Since 2008 Necsa has conducted several pre-feasibility studies as mandated in the Nuclear Energy Policy of 2008.
The studies have been submitted to the DoE, while regular quarterly and annual progress updates were reported to the minister and DoE, as required by the Public Finance Management Act.
The NNR and Necsa had been part of the government-led integrated nuclear infrastructure review (INIR) team since November 2010.
This comprehensive infrastructure review process was being conducted in accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency Milestones Approach.
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