Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson arrived in Vienna, Austria on Sunday to attend the 58th general conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the ministry said.

Joemat-Pettersson would lead a South African delegation at the conference, which begins on Monday, the ministry said in a statement.

"The conference will discuss the status of nuclear power and technologies in the world and matters related to nuclear safety, nuclear security and technical co-operation."

The IAEA's latest report on the status of nuclear power would be presented at the conference.

According to the report, there were 435 nuclear power reactors operating in 30 countries, and 72 reactors were under construction in 15 countries.

The report noted South Africa was one of four countries currently planning to build new nuclear power plants, the ministry said.

Others were the United Kingdom, Sweden, Canada and Iran.

Joemat-Pettersson would address the conference on Monday, where she would highlight developments in the nuclear sector in South Africa and its experience using nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

The South African delegation includes South Africa's ambassador to the IAEA Tebogo Seokolo, the CEOs of the SA Nuclear Energy Corporation and the National Nuclear Regulator, and senior managers of Eskom and the energy department.