B Sonjica: Young Nuclear Professionals Society launch

25 August 2006

Programme Director,
Leaders from nuclear stakeholder organisations,
Members of the South African Young Nuclear Professional Society,
Representatives of the various spheres of government,
Honourable guests,
Ladies and gentlemen

Good evening!

Just over six weeks ago we commemorated 30 years of the gallantry of the
youth of 1976 who barehanded, decided to take on one of the most brutal systems
that humanity has ever faced. Indeed we were celebrating their sacrifices,
which in no small measure contributed to the birth of our 12-year-old
democracy.

It is indeed heartening to be here at an event that has been spearheaded by
another generation of the youth, which is determined to tackle yet other
challenges: poverty, unemployment and the dearth of skills being the main ones.
I salute the South African Young Nuclear Professionals Society for the steps
that you have taken in organising yourselves into a disciplined force for the
development of nuclear technology in South Africa.

I am told that the SAYNPS boasts no less than 200 young nuclear
professionals most of whom are highly qualified and this in itself is an
achievement that has to be celebrated. Your planned outreach programmes to
schools and tertiary institutions shows a visionary approach. This launch comes
at time when we are grappling with the issue of expanding the role of nuclear
technology in our country. The expansion of peaceful uses of nuclear energy
worldwide is looking more and more irreversible. Recent events worldwide
continue to demonstrate that energy is the lifeblood of economies of the
world.

The nuclear energy industry in South Africa, although relatively small,
plays an important role in our country. It employs approximately 3 500 people
and accounts for sizeable foreign exchange earnings mainly through the export
of uranium oxide by the Nuclear Fuels Corporation of South Africa (NUFCOR) and
medical isotopes and fluorochemical products by the South African Nuclear
Energy Corporation (NECSA). In addition to these contributions, the Koeberg
nuclear power station accounts for approximately 6% of our electricity
generation, which is otherwise mainly from coal ensuring that the air quality
around Cape Town is not impacted negatively by electricity generation. Clearly
there is potential in this country and this continent for us to look at ways of
increasing the role nuclear technology plays in our economies.

I believe that nuclear energy is going to play a significant role in
fulfilling the world’s energy needs. Already countries like China and India are
building a number of nuclear power plants and the Russian Federation has
recently announced a massive new nuclear building programme, which will result
in them adding 2 000 megawatts (MW) of nuclear power every year until 2030. It
is my view that by 2030 South Africa should have added at the very least,
another 5 000 MW of nuclear energy to fulfil our electricity needs. This is not
an insignificant task taking into account that this means building between four
and six new nuclear reactors. I certainly believe that the Pebble Bed Modular
Reactor (PBMR) will definitely contribute to that new nuclear build. A nuclear
build programme of that magnitude also requires us to look at the fuel, which
in this case is provided by uranium. South Africa possesses enough uranium
reserves to fuel such a nuclear energy programme. Recent trends point to a
continuing increase in the uranium price in the market.

As a broad policy approach the South African government is strongly
encouraging the beneficiation of our minerals resources; and I am of the view
that the mining community of South Africa must take advantage of the uranium
price increase, the increased viability of domestic value-addition to uranium,
and begin to refocus their efforts on the comprehensive development of this
resource for peaceful purposes. I therefore believe that the time has come for
South Africa to conduct a cost benefit analysis into the beneficiation of
uranium. I will soon be making certain announcements in this regard. It goes
without saying that beneficiation of uranium comes with its own
responsibilities and sensitivities and we would pursue this within our national
and international obligations.

To sustain a nuclear industry a country requires robust national
institutions. I believe that in this country we have now laid a good foundation
for excellence in our nuclear institutions. We however have a challenge in
ensuring that we retain the talent we have in these institutions and also
continue to attract, rapidly develop and deploy young talent into this
industry. SAYNPS working together with employers must ensure that skills
transfer takes place rapidly. Skills transfer is by the way a two-way process.
There must be a willing coach, and a willing learner.

I cannot complete my speech without tackling one of the challenges that
still confronts our society. Earlier today, I led my department and other
stakeholders in the minerals and energy sector to celebrate some of the gains
that have been made by women, but more importantly to reflect on the challenges
ahead and to re-issue the clarion call for all to make gender equality a
reality in our workplaces and in our homes now. I was heartened to see that
women in this sector too, have organised themselves under the banner of Women
in Nuclear South Africa (WINSA). The cause of the SAYNPS cannot be complete
without Women IN Nuclear (WINSA).

What then are my expectations of SAYNPS?

* First and foremost the sector that you are in requires a high degree of
skills.
* You must ensure that you equip yourselves with all the requisite skills and
gain expertise in at least one of the disciplines within the sector.
* I also expect you to be a disciplined cadre of skilled nuclear
professionals.
* Maintaining unity of purpose will also go a long way in ensuring that you
achieve your goals.
* You must become champions of the nuclear sector and role models for aspirant
nuclear professionals.
* Your work must yield tangible results and you need to meet regularly to
objectively and critically review progress.

To the employers, I expect that the youth will be given the necessary
support in this initiative. They are the future of this industry and you must
empower them and impart the necessary skills to enable them to run an efficient
nuclear sector. I would like employers to focus in particular on accelerated
but structured skills transfer processes.

In a few minutes, I will witness the commitment of the Heads of Nuclear
Institutions to the SAYNPS initiative. In conclusion, I would like to take this
opportunity to also thank the organisers for a job well done. I wish to also
thank the nuclear sector employers for the support they have shown to SAYNPS
initiative. I also would like to thank our partner department, the Department
of Science and Technology, for their support of the January workshop where this
initiative was concretised.

The Department of Minerals and Energy will continue to support SAYNPS, but
we will also be monitoring progress very strongly. I wish you well!

I thank you.

Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
25 August 2006