The agreement was signed today in Algiers during the occasion of the State Visit of President Zuma to Algeria. Minister Peters is accompanying the President to Algeria. The agreement makes provision for co operation in the peaceful use of nuclear energy and will also facilitate exchanges in the production of medical radioisotopes.
Minister Peters said, “South Africa has moved from being a pariah for its use of nuclear technology in furtherance of the objective of the apartheid state to a country that respects and conforms to all the international conventions on the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Accordingly, we have become the leading producer and supplier of the much sought after medical radioisotopes which are based on low enriched uranium fuel”.
“We believe that the peaceful use of nuclear energy among the African countries is critical in contributing to the decimation of energy poverty on our continent and will catapult our two countries onto an even higher economic development”, Minister Peters concluded.
The agreement will also facilitate the exchange of expertise and personnel by the implementing agencies such as Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) and Comena.
Enquiries:
Bheki Khumalo
Cell: 082 773 2388
Zodwa Batyashe
Cell: 082 455 9796
Issued by: Department of Energy
26 May 2010
