The new chairperson-designate of the board of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa), Dr Kelvin Kemm, has thanked Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Petterson for nominating him to the post. Kemm is, among other things, the CEO of Nuclear Africa and a columnist for Engineering News.

“I’d like to express my gratitude to the Minister of Energy for having the belief in my abilities, to entrust me with this task, which is clearly concerned not just with Necsa but with the entire nuclear programme,” he told Engineering News on March 4, the day after his appointment was announced. “I am aware of my responsibilities and will do my utmost to fulfil them. I am also delighted in the quality of the other members appointed to the board.”

The other new members of the board are Mr Nqaba Ngcobo, Dr Namane Magau, Dr Xolani Mkhwanazi, Dr Alex Smanga Tsela, Ms Rosemary Mosia, Mr Zibusise Comfort Ngidi, Ms Pamela Bosman and Prince Kennedy Tshivhase. They, and Dr Kemm, will all serve three-year terms.

Necsa CEO Phumzile Tshelane congratulated the members of the new board on their appointments. “The Necsa management team welcomes this positive development as it will strengthen the corporation’s governance process,” he said. He also praised and thanked the outgoing board members, for, in the words of the Necsa press release, “their diligence and leadership over the organisation during the past three to six years” which also stated that Tshelane gave “special thanks” to Ambassador Mochubela Seekoe, the outgoing chairperson, for “his inspirational leadership during the previous term”. It should be noted that there have been press reports of fierce disputes between Tshelane and the outgoing board.

Necsa has four main missions. It carries out and encourages research and development in nuclear energy and in radiation sciences and technology and makes the results freely available. It processes nuclear source material, special nuclear material and material that is restricted, as well as reprocessing and enriching source material and nuclear material. It cooperates with any institution or person operating in these fields. Last but not least, it carries out institutional functions on behalf of the government including those related to the country’s international nuclear obligations, the operation and use of the SAFARI-1 research reactor, nuclear decommissioning and nuclear waste management.

“For many years since its inception, Necsa has carried out its mandate with impressive efficiency, and often exceeded expectations in delivering on its predetermined objectives,” stated Tshelane. “The organisation has gained international respect and built a reputation among its international peers and has surprised many of its counterparts through successive breakthroughs and innovations that made Africa proud.”

SAFARI-1 is the most highly commercially utilised research reactor in the world today. It is being used for the production of radioisotopes, as well as neutron-related research and development and other neutron-related activities, such as neutron irradiation transmutation of silicon ingots, for applications in the electronics industry. It now operates at close to 20 MW on a continual basis and is available more than 300 days a year.

Necsa produces radioisotopes for both medical and industrial purposes and exports medical radioisotopes to more than 60 countries. It can undertake nuclear standard manufacturing and has exported nuclear reaction chambers to Russia. Other international customers for Necsa manufactured components are Alstom and Areva, in France. It has also produced parts for Eskom’s new coal-fired Medupi and Kusile power plants. The corporation also operates a Learning Academy where it trains engineers, artisans and other skilled technical workers.