NECSA

The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) supports the country adopting small modular reactors (SMRs) and believes that it can play a key role in this process.

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So, affirms Necsa group executive: power and industry Sengiphile Simelane, in an exclusive interview with Engineering News.

Necsa is mandated to conduct research in the sphere of nuclear energy. Based at Pelindaba, west of Pretoria, Necsa owns and operates the SAFARI-1 research reactor, which is used for both research and the production of radioisotopes (for industrial but especially medical use).

"Necsa believes that the first South African SMR should be built at Pelindaba," he says.

"The first example should be for energy production. If it's built at Pelindaba, this will allow Necsa to gain expertise in SMRs and help the subsequent roll-out of further SMRs, which could be used to replace the country's ageing coal-fired power stations."