B Sonjica: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General
Conference

18 September 2006

Mr President,
Director-General,
Your Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates:

Allow me Mr President to add my country's voice in congratulating you on the
assumption of your role as President of the General Conference and the honour
bestowed on the Governor of South Africa to guide us through this anniversary
session, the 50th Regular Session, which marks a significant point in the
history of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). South Africa is fully
committed to its objectives as set out in article two of the IAEA's Statute,
with a view to further the development and applications of nuclear technology
towards peace, health and prosperity.

Let me, once again, convey my government's congratulations to the
Director-General of the agency and the agency secretariat on receiving the
Nobel Peace Prize in 2005. Such an award is indeed a great recognition of the
agency's work and efforts to ensure the peaceful and safe use of nuclear
energy.

We believe that this honour will also encourage the IAEA to face, with new
resolve, the current challenges facing the nuclear disarmament and the nuclear
non-proliferation regime.

I also would like to take this opportunity to extend a warm welcome to the
Republics of Malawi, Mozambique, Montenegro and Palau who have joined the
agency and assure them of our support. The growing representation by developing
countries in the agency is, in our view, evidence of the increasing relevance
of nuclear energy and its potential contribution towards socio-economic
development.

Mr President,

The increasing recognition of the role that nuclear energy can play in
meeting the energy requirements of the 21st century has prompted a review of
national energy policies. Renewed international commitment to the expansion of
nuclear energy requires increased international co-operation to ensure the
safety, security and peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Whilst South Africa is committed to the continuous review and strengthening
of measures aimed at preventing the proliferation of weapons of mass
destruction including the agency's safeguards system, we believe that real
progress in securing our world from the threat of nuclear weapons can only be
achieved through concomitant progress in the area of nuclear disarmament.

It is only through full compliance by all States with their respective legal
obligations in the areas of non-proliferation and disarmament that peaceful
uses of nuclear energy can thrive for the benefit of all.

Member States will recall that “turning swords into ploughshares” in nuclear
weapons context has long stood as a symbol of international efforts aimed at
the elimination of nuclear weapons. We therefore again call on the
nuclear-weapon States to reaffirm their commitments and undertakings to
systematically and progressively eliminate their nuclear weapon arsenals.

There is a growing concern that while demands are being made for
non-nuclear-weapon States to agree to new measures in the name of
non-proliferation, concrete actions towards nuclear disarmament are neglected.
South Africa wishes to reiterate that it cannot support unwarranted
restrictions on the Non-Proliferation Treaty's (NPT) guaranteed access to
nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes by States that are fully compliant
with their obligations under the NPT. The imposition of additional restrictive
measures on some NPT States while allowing others to have access to these
capabilities, only serves to exacerbate existing inequalities that are already
inherent in the NPT and undermines one of the central bargains contained in the
treaty.

Mr President,

With regard to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea's (DPRK) nuclear
programme, South Africa remains concerned about the lack of progress in finding
a lasting solution. We appeal to the DPRK to return to the NPT, to eliminate
all its nuclear weapons and to place all its material and facilities under IAEA
Safeguards.

On the implementation of NPT safeguards in the Islamic Republic of Iran, my
delegation has noted the co-operation extended by the Iranian authorities to
the Director-General and his staff in particular in providing the agency with
access to nuclear material and facilities and in providing the required
reports. South Africa has, however, also noted in the Director-General's report
that there remains very little progress in resolving the outstanding safeguards
issues.

We are encouraged by the preliminary discussions that have recently taken
place between Iran and the European high representative. For the first time
since August 2005, there seems to be a real possibility of resuming
negotiations with the view to resolving differences. South Africa will continue
to support all efforts aimed at finding a sustainable, long-term agreement that
takes full account of the rights, obligations, concerns, needs and legitimate
aspirations of all the parties involved.

South Africa strongly believes that we cannot afford a further major crisis
in a region of high tension, conflict, instability and a general lack of
security as well as massive suffering on the part of ordinary citizens. We
believe that if all parties concerned continue to de-escalate the process,
exercise restraint and show the necessary flexibility any differences can be
resolved without the need to resort to confrontation and coercive measures. It
is our hope that we will all act in a manner that would build the necessary
trust and confidence to normalise this complex matter.

Notwithstanding the involvement of other organs of the United Nations (UN),
the IAEA remains the sole competent authority responsible for verifying and
assuring in accordance with its statute, Iran's compliance with its safeguards
agreement. If we are to preserve the integrity, authority and credibility of
the agency to confirm the peaceful nature of our respective nuclear programmes
there rests a responsibility on all of us to fully co-operate with the agency
in a pro-active and prompt manner.

Mr President,

Let me remind Members States of the unambiguous principle enshrined in
Article IV of the NPT that nothing in the treaty shall be interpreted as
affecting the inalienable right of all parties to develop research, production
and use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes without discrimination and in
conformity with Articles I and II. This principle provides the necessary
framework for the pursuance of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

As a country with abundant natural resources, South Africa is continuously
seeking ways of maximising their utilisation. Our Integrated Energy Plan (IEP)
recognises the need for nuclear power to play a role in meeting our energy
needs and in contributing to security of supply through diversity. As you are
aware good progress is also being made with our own innovative Pebble Bed
Modular Reactor (PBMR) and it is envisaged that the PBMR demonstration plant
will be completed by 2011, with the first commercial modules planned for 2013.
The building of other base-load nuclear power plants using advanced versions of
existing technologies is also under consideration. These factors have
necessitated a study into the possible beneficiation of our uranium resources.
I recently announced that a cost-benefit analysis will be undertaken with the
objective of determining which areas of the fuel cycle could be pursued. We
will be methodical in this process and we will do this within the confines of
all our obligations.

Mr President,

Distinguished delegates may recall that in July 2005, the South African
government approved the conversion of the SAFARI research reactor at Pelindaba
from utilising High Enriched Uranium (HEU) fuel to Low Enriched Uranium (LEU)
fuel. The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) is already
progressing well with the establishment of technology for the manufacturing of
LEU silicide fuel.

The demonstration of the borehole disposal concept for the spent sealed
sources was successfully completed by the NECSA with a favourable report from
the agency's peer review team. Building on the success of this project, NECSA
has been contracted to design and construct a system for the safe handling of
spent high activity radioactive sources.

Under the African Regional Co-operative Agreement (AFRA), South African
experts continue to participate in specialised teams that carry out missions in
AFRA member states, including the promotion of national and regional
self-reliance in nuclear science and technology the conditioning and safe
storage of spent radium sources and the auditing of nuclear medicine and
radiotherapy facilities. Our appreciation of the assistance received from the
agency in support of the AFRA initiatives cannot be overemphasised. This is
evidence of nuclear energy's contribution towards the achievement of the
Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) of reducing poverty.

Important activities undertaken in the context of the agency's Technical
Co-operation (TC) programme particularly in the area of health, agriculture and
water resource management have the potential of positively affecting and
improving the livelihood of countless numbers of people. It is for this reason
that South Africa places a high premium on the IAEA's Technical Co-operation
Programme. We recognise the important contribution that the application of
nuclear energy for peaceful uses can make towards sustainable development
including on our own African continent.

A new Country Programme Framework for South Africa has been completed. In
our quest to ensure sustainability of TC projects and in line with the IAEA
strategy, the South African government has set aside some additional funding to
upscale TC projects in the country.

South Africa attaches great importance to skills development. In this
context we are pleased that the regional IAEA postgraduate course on radiation
protection will resume next year. This course has indeed laid a solid
foundation for the development of expertise in radiation protection in our
region. South Africa expresses its gratitude to the agency for the excellent
support rendered under the TC programme, which is making an indelible
contribution to the socio-economic development of our country. It is for this
reason that we shall continue to pay our assessed contributions to the TC fund
in full and on time.

Mr President,

South Africa supports the agency's initiatives for the harmonisation and
strengthening of international co-operation in nuclear, radiation, transport
and waste safety through active participation in the agency's safety standards
programme. We continue to participate actively in the four safety standards
committees and the commission on safety standards. The recent endorsement by
this commission of the common fundamentals is a major step forward in
harmonisation of the agency's series of safety standards. As the use of nuclear
energy increases, a continued focus on safety will go a long way towards its
sustainability.

South Africa also welcomes the proposed revision of the Basic Safety
Standards (BSS) as there is a need for consistency in international standards.
However, careful attention will have to be given to the merit of any changes
that might be proposed during the revision process.

South Africa strongly supports the Convention on Nuclear Safety and as a
follow-up to the third review meeting, has undertaken a detailed review of the
conclusions made in the summary report with the objective of identifying future
potential shortcomings within the South African context and to implement, where
necessary, preventive actions.

I am pleased to report that the South African Parliament has approved the
accession to the joint convention on the safety of spent fuel management and on
the safety of radioactive waste management. This also followed the approval of
a Radioactive Waste Management Policy and strategy by our government in
November 2005.

Mr President,

To assist in strengthening regulatory effectiveness on a regional basis we
are investigating the establishment of a Regional Nuclear Safety Regulatory
Forum. Our nuclear regulator will soon be engaging with counterparts in this
regard. The aims of this forum would be to ensure the strengthening of
regulatory frameworks, infrastructure, as well as the harmonisation of safety
standards. South Africa supports the code of conduct on the safety and security
of radioactive sources together with the guidance on the import and export of
radioactive sources.

Mr President,

My government welcomes the report of the Auditor-General on the agency's
accounts for 2005. Whilst we recognise some financial constraints, we would
like to impress upon Member States to heed the call to honour their assessed
contributions on time and in full to assure the implementation of the agency's
major programmes.

In conclusion, Mr President, as the world's foremost international
governmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the peaceful
use of nuclear energy, it is imperative that the IAEA remains diligent in its
efforts to ensure the continued development of and the peaceful application of
nuclear technology taking into consideration the needs of the under-developed
areas of the world. South Africa remains fully committed to assist and to
contribute to these efforts.

I thank you!

Issued by: Department of Minerals and Energy
18 September 2006