50th ANNIVERSARY
“Little South Africa” leads the way in nuclear medicine as Necsa celebrates 50 years of SAFARI-1 reactor
SOUTH AFRICA is a worldleader in the application of nuclear technology, particularly in medicine, according to Phumzile Tshelane, the chief executive officer of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), which operates under the auspices of the Department of Energy (DoE).
“South Africa has been advancing the application of nuclear technology in medicine, science and industries for five decades, with tremendous spin-offs not widely acknowledged in the country itself but recognized and respected around the world,” said Tshelane.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the SAFARI-1 reactor which has been operational since 18 March 1965, Tshelane said that a solid foundation has been laid to harness the benefits of nuclear technology, and that Necsa already has plans endorsed by the Government to “take it to the next level”.
“We will use it (nuclear energy) to re-industrialise the economy, educate and also to ensure peace and prosperity in South Africa,” he said.
Necsa derives its mandate from the Nuclear Energy Act under which it is obliged to undertake and promote research and development (R&D) in the field of nuclear energy and radiation sciences and technology and, subject to the Safeguards Agreement, to make these generally available; process source material, special nuclear material and restricted material and to reprocess and enrich source and nuclear material; and cooperate with any person or institution in matters falling within these functions, subject to the approval of the Minister.
The organisation’s vision is to pursue nuclear technology excellence for sustainable social and economic development and its mission is to develop, utilise and manage nuclear technology for national and regional socioeconomic development.
Necsa receives 30-percent of its funding from government and raises the remainder from commercial activities around the world, including the African continent. “We have to expand our services and products to ensure that we generate extra income because understandably, we are competing with other essential areas for finance, so the more revenue we generate, we get to pay more in taxes, thus benefiting South Africa,” he said.
Necsa earns about a R1 billion per annum through NTP, one of its subsidiaries and there are millions of rands in balance of payments to the advantage of South Africa as it trades with over 60 countries.
Education about the benefits of nuclear energy, said Tshelane, is crucial since a recent study by the Human Sciences Research Council found that half of the South African adult population does not know about the benefits of nuclear technology.
Regarding the benefits of nuclear energy as a source of electricity, 50% of respondents said that they did not know; 23% said that it ensures a reliable supply of electricity; and 16% said that it helps to combat climate change.
These figures are a clear indication that Necsa, government and other role players in the nuclear industry have a lot of work to do as far as communication of nuclear is concerned.
On 16 March 2011 Cabinet approved the Policy Adjusted IRP 2010 (Integrated Resource Plan 2010) for promulgation by the Department of Energy. This plan forms the basis for South Africa’s electricity generation mix going forward for the next 20 years.
Necsa will play a prominent role in the planning and implementation of the processes required to meet the needs of the nuclear electricity supply technologies as part of the IRP2010, and this will also fulfil part of the CO2 emission reduction requirement in the Cabinet plan.
When President Jacob Zuma, who is the guest of honour at tonight’s function at Pelindaba to celebrate the anniversary of SAFARI-1, visited the Necsa facilities in November, he acknowledged that the utility was ready to support the government’s new build nuclear programme.
While it is still early days in respect of South Africa’s procurement of nuclear power plants, amid recent reports of a deal with Russia, Tshelane said Necsa being the only government institution mandated to carry out certain nuclear applications, would be involved in some capacity in future developments.
“This gives South Africans much confidence about the actions of our government and its considerations to maintain security of power supply and to initiate processes for job creation and economic growth,” he said. In respect of education, and mindful of the shortage of black scientists in the country, Tshelane wants Necsa to do all it can to encourage young women and men to become interested in nuclear science.
To this end, Necsa currently engages with communities and schools, participates in the annual Sci-fest exhibition, among others, and supports 50 postgraduate students involved in energy studies at the Universities of Johannesburg, Witwatersrand, North-West and Pretoria.
“One may argue that 50 students in a country of 50 million people is not significant but we are convinced that in the long-term it would have the desired effect,” he added.
Necsa also runs a job-shadowing programme for girls from disadvantaged backgrounds to expose them to careers in science and technology, while the visitor centre at Pelindaba is used as a focal point for outreach campaigns to schools. More than 12 500 pupils visited the centre in the 2013/14 financial year.
Tshelane said that the goal for Necsa in the future is to ensure it breaks new ground and builds on its success in developing medicinal applications, which are exported to 60 countries around the world.
One of the key areas is around neutron beam facilities to support heritage studies, a subject gaining traction among the country’s research community, which has seen Necsa establish a fossil preparation laboratory on its site to help researchers make use of their research facilities.
He says Necsa is determined to look at ways in which their studies can help disease management in the human body.
“There is a lack of understanding in the country about what we do yet internationally when they talk at medical conferences about nuclear medicinal technology, Necsa is the first to be named.
“We are in this regard, ahead of the United States, China and Russia, while the biggest player in nuclear medicine is Canada,” he said.
“Little South Africa is making waves on the global stage although the public at home has little understanding of the benefits of what we are doing.”
Tshelane said events, such as today’s celebration, will help to spread the message to the public at large, inspire interest in careers in science and technology, cement Necsa’s role as a custodian in the nuclear sector, and above all, play a crucial role in job creation and the economy.
Group executive: Corporate Services Xolisa Mabhongo said while Necsa has a mandate to promote research and development, equipping South Africans with the requisite skills for industry is a key challenge.
It is not only in the production of components, for example for Eskom’s Medupi and Khusile power plants currently under construction, where Necsa excels but also in the development of experts able to work in the industry.
Some of the components have been exported to Russia and South Korea.
In respect of skills development, Mabhongo said Necsa trains artisans for a number of South African companies.
“They are now contributing to the technological skills base and are able to work across industries,” he said.
Echoing the CEO’s position, Mabhongo said the mere mention of the word nuclear sent some into a tailspin but at Necsa it was used purely for peaceful purposes and aimed at ensuring that it benefits the country and the economy.
He was particularly proud of the facility’s Mo99 (molybdenum) isotope for the treatment of cancer which is being used on 10 million patients worldwide.
Research and Development Divisional Executive, Motodi Maserumule, said the cancer treatment therapies and diagnostic tools helps thousands of South Africans and hundreds of thousands more around the world. “Products out of Necsa are contributing to increased quality of life for people diagnosed with cancer.
“Necsa has a handful of subsidiaries that trade product offerings emanating from in peaceful applications of nuclear sciences,” Maserumule said.
“We are fortunate to have facilities like SAFARI-1 to develop products like medical isotopes used in treatment of cancer. Despite a very supportive Government with funding instruments, funding for product development and commercialization remains one of the biggest hurdles towards industrialization. We wish to be able to move with speed through the piloting phase of possible products,” he added.
As Necsa celebrates 50 years of SAFARI-1, Maserumule said the key goals include state of the art facility additions and upgrades being implemented at SAFARI-1. We get generous support from Government through the Department of Energy on these cutting edge facilities. Upon completion of all these upgrades the research, development and innovation ( RD&I) capacity within Necsa and the national system of innovation, including universities, will be greatly enhanced. The facilities being upgraded are:
Neutron Diffraction ( Currently running);
Neutron Radiography/Tomography; and, Small Angle Neutron Scattering. “We plan to optimise the use of these facilities by national researchers and postgraduate students through an online user office,” he said.
“With the support of government departments and other stakeholders, we hope to increase our intensity of product development so that we may develop intellectual property, technologies, technology enterprises and entrepreneurs to that we may contribute to job creation for well-paying jobs,” he concluded.