The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) signed an agreement with the State Nuclear Power Technology Company (SNPTC) of China last month that entails sending senior officials to China for training in project management for the construction of nuclear power plants.
China is building more than 20 nuclear reactors using different technologies, and as South Africa prepares for the procurement phase of the nuclear new build programme, this presents an opportunity for the officials to acquire first-hand experience in nuclear power plants under construction.
“This is an invaluable opportunity for our people, as project management is one of the critical functions in a nuclear build process. Once we start building, we will have to deliver our plants on time and within budget,” says Necsa CEO Phumzile Tshelane.
Necsa and the SNPTC have also been responsible for the implementation of another agreement, under which 50 South Africans received training in nuclear engineering in China early last year. The second phase of this programme will start this month and will be conducted in both countries.