The Nuclear Industry Association of South Africa is proud to announce its headline sponsorship of the Nuclear Forum at this year’s Africa Energy Indaba.
The Nuclear Forum has secured the participation of leading local and global players. (Please refer to programme for more details), who will lay the field for an interactive and engaging dialogue on the future of the nuclear industry in South Africa and deep dive into the issues surrounding the new build programme.
The Africa Energy Indaba profiles Africa’s challenges and opportunities that have an impact on Africa’s energy security. With the continent as the next investment frontier for energy, it has opportunities for global investors and has vast natural energy resources including coal, uranium, oil, gas, hydro, solar, wind and geothermal.
South Africa’s draft Integrated Resource Plan and Integrated Energy Plan have put nuclear energy under the spotlight, conversation around nuclear energy is growing in momentum and interest, now that ESKOM has announced its nuclear RFI.
NIASA MD, Knox Msebenzi, says that part of a broader narrative around energy security and its role in South Africa, nuclear has become a subject of much debate and discussion. These discussions have become highly emotional and political and almost everybody from all walks of life has an opinion.
“Access to electricity means access to opportunity and the chance for Africa to reach its economic potential, while ensuring that the principles of localization are the foundations and ethos followed through out the new build process. This is why NIASA believes that our participation in this Nuclear Forum will allow for open and vigorous debate around the role of nuclear as South Africa will soon embark on massive infrastructure projects that are planned to the tune of R850 billion, as indicated by the President.”
“The decades-long pipeline for the Nuclear Build Programme seeks to build and grow qualified and skilled expertise that is local but global in competitiveness. Ours is a continent with an increasing number of urban youth and above average growth rates,” says Msebenzi.
This year’s Africa Energy Indaba will be held at the Sandton Convention Centre between the 21st – 22nd February 2017, and will consist of Africa’s leading business people, policy makers, scientists, analysts, engineers and civil society in energy who will contribute their views, opinions and models for collaboration that can assist with energy security and a sustainable energy mix.