Russian company Rusatom Overseas, a subsidiary of the State-owned Rosatom nuclear group, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with South Africa’s North-West University (NWU). Rusatom Overseas is tasked with promoting Russian nuclear technologies in the world market while NWU is the only tertiary educational institution in South Africa that offers postgraduate degrees in nuclear engineering.
“The signed memorandum offers great opportunities,” affirmed Rusatom Overseas CEO Dzhomart Aliev. “We are pleased to announce the signing of the MoU with our Russian colleagues,” stated NWU Potchefstroom campus Rector Professor Herman van Schalkwyk.
In terms of the MoU the two sides will set up a working group to develop specific cooperation programmes. These projects could include cooperative scientific research, joint seminars, the exchange of specialists and the joint development of textbooks.
“On the one hand, it will promote the development of technical education in South Africa, on the other hand, [the] possibility to find out more about modern Russian technologies and joint research and scientific developments [which] will provide [a] solid foundation for the development of Rosatom’s business relations in South Africa,” cited Aliev.
“We recognise that nuclear energy remains an important option for South Africa,” pointed out Van Schalkwyk. “The intention is to explore the potential for future collaboration, ranging from education to specific technical projects in nuclear engineering, hydrogen technologies, energy, etc.”
The Rosatom group incorporates more than 250 companies and scientific institutes and is currently undertaking projects to build 28 nuclear power reactors, 19 of them outside Russia. NWU has three campuses in two provinces – Potchefstroom and Mafikeng, in North West province and Vaal Triangle, in Gauteng. The Potchefstroom campus houses the School of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, which is unique in South Africa.