IAEA DG Yukio Amano
Photo by: Duane Daws
The director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Yukio Amano, on Wednesday reaffirmed his organisation's readiness to help African countries adopt nuclear energy, if they wish to. "Your country [South Africa] is the only established user of nuclear power [in Africa]. Other countries are very interested in using nuclear power," he said in answer to a question from Engineering News Online.
He cited Kenya, Egypt and Nigeria as examples. "If they decide to use it, we're helping to use it sustainably, safely." The IAEA had a 19-step guidance document for countries wanting to adopt nuclear power. This is not mandatory but is, he pointed out, very useful. It includes information on what international conventions a country has to join, what regulations have to be adopted, how to select sites for nuclear power plants (NPPs) and how to select vendors of NPPs. The IAEA can also send missions to help countries assess themselves on their readiness for nuclear power.
But nuclear technology, and the IAEA, covers much more than NPPs. Nuclear technology is used to fight cancer, extend the shelf life of food, fight human- and crop-disease carrying insects, and locate underground water sources, for example. "In our daily life, nuclear technology is used everywhere."
"I'm very much encouraged that African countries, small and big, are interested in using [these other] nuclear technologies," he affirmed. "I believe in the advantage of nuclear technologies, not just in nuclear power."
Amano praised South Africa for its willingness to share its nuclear expertise with others. "South Africa is an excellent role model in South-South cooperation, generously sharing its nuclear expertise to other countries in Africa and beyond." As an example, he cited South Africa's provision of training in nuclear medicine.
"South Africa is an experienced user of advanced nuclear technology, a leader in many areas and a valued partner of the IAEA," he highlighted. "South Africa provides an excellent example of how modern technology can be used to effectively advance development."
Amano was delivering a public lecture at the Potchefstroom campus of North West University on Wednesday. This was arranged in cooperation with the Department of Energy.