The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the (Republic of) Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (Kaeri), the South African State-owned entity announced on Thursday. The MoU was signed in a virtual ceremony, came into effect immediately, and has a term of five years.
“Nuclear technology is essential to human life and, through this MoU, we are making this a global reality,” asserted Necsa Group CE Loyiso Tyabashe. The MoU will help advance Necsa’s vision, which is of becoming a celebrated nuclear and research agency in Africa and around the world.
The MoU opens the way to developing bilateral trade in areas such as nuclear technology, medical isotopes and fluorine-based chemicals. It also covers human resource management. It additionally provides for information exchange, facility visits and joint research and development.
Further, it makes provision for Necsa and Kaeri to identify new opportunities as they materialise. The two agencies foresee collaboration in the development of radiopharmaceuticals based on Zirconium-89, for the early detection of cancer.