Nuclear Safety

The National nuclear Regulator which reports to the Minister of Electrcity and Energy was established and is governed in terms of the National Nuclear Regulator Act, Act No. 47 of 1999 which came into effect on February 2000.

The NNR is responsible for exercising regulatory control over the safety of nuclear installations, certain types of radioactive waste, irradiated nuclear fuel and the mining and processing of radioactive material. It is also responsible for the protection of persons (workers and members of the public), environment and property from the harmful effects arising from ionising radiation produced by radioactive material.

International Conventions on Nuclear Safety

https://www.iaea.org/topics/nuclear-safety-conventions/convention-nuclear-safety

Nuclear Liabilities

In terms of section 50 of the Nuclear Energy Act, 1999 (Act 46 of 1999), the Minister is responsible for institutional nuclear obligations. These include the management of nuclear waste disposal on a national basis and the decommissioning and decontamination of past strategic nuclear facilities.

The Radioactive Waste Management Policy and Strategy of 2008, states that “Government shall establish a National Committee on Radioactive waste Management (NCRWM) which will oversee the implementation of this policy and strategy, and which shall be independent from the generators of radioactive waste”. The NCRWM is established to oversee the implementation of the RWMPS and it is responsible for the evaluation of the Radioactive Waste Management Plans (RWMP) submitted by waste generators and makes recommendations to the Minister for approval. The NCRWM also oversees the implementation of the Radioactive Waste Management Plans of waste generators.

The Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) is instated as the government’s lead representative regarding nuclear matters and will therefore, in consultation with the relevant stakeholders, develop and maintain a national action plan. As a result, this policy and strategy ensures that radioactive waste management is practiced accordingly. The Committee is chaired by a representative from DEE who reports to the Minister through the DEE line management.

To fulfil the role of Cooperative Governance as per the Constitution of the Republic, the NCRWM constitutes representatives from the following Government agencies: Department of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment (DFFE), Department of Water and Sanitation (DWS), National Nuclear Regulator (NNR), and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA).

International Conventions on Nuclear Liabilities

https://www.iaea.org/topics/nuclear-safety-conventions/joint-convention-safety-spent-fuel-management-and-safety-radioactive-waste

 

Nuclear Emergency Management

In terms of the In terms of the Disaster Management Act, 2015 (Act No. 16 of 2015) as amended the Department of Electricity and Energy (DEE) is the National Organ of State responsible for coordination and management of matters related to nuclear disasters. The Chief Directorate: Nuclear Safety and Technology is specifically responsible to service the obligations of the Minister in the area of nuclear disaster management. 
 
In line with the National Nuclear Disaster Management Plan (NNDMP) of 2005, the DEE established an Emergency Planning, Steering and Oversight Committee (EPSOC) for both the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) and Eskom’s Koeberg Nuclear Power Station (KNPS) which is responsible for oversight and coordination of emergency preparedness and response matters that relate to Necsa and Eskom. 
 
The objective is to ensure the effective implementation of the disaster management plans of Necsa and Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, as well as those for the respective stakeholders within the three spheres of government. The Chief Directorate is responsible to service the following obligations with regard to nuclear disaster management and response as outlined in the NNDMP:
 
• To service the obligations of the Minister regarding nuclear or radiological emergency planning matters under the National Nuclear Regulator Act, 1999 (Act No. 47 of 1999)
• Represent DME at meetings of the Intergovernmental Committee on Disaster Management established in terms of the DM Act.
• Ensure establishment and chair the Nuclear Emergency Planning Steering and Oversight Committee (EPSOC) meetings
• In case of a National Disaster declared as a result of a nuclear emergency, deploy a DEE representative to the Joint Operations Centre (JOC) of the relevant local government authority (or other appropriate centre) and deploy a DEE representative to the National Disaster Management Centre. At these centres DEE will participate in Joint decision making and management of the emergency in accordance with the procedures at these facilities.
• Responsible for Joint Coordination of post-disaster recovery and rehabilitation with other two spheres of government and with the necessary input from the holder of the nuclear authorisation and the nuclear regulator
• Responsible for notifying, through official channels, South Africa’s bordering States about a nuclear or radiological emergency as required.
• Responsible for establishing any procedures required in terms of the NNDMP

International Conventions on Emergency Management

https://www.iaea.org/topics/nuclear-safety-conventions/convention-early-notification-nuclear-accident

https://www.iaea.org/topics/nuclear-safety-conventions/convention-assistance-case-nuclear-accident-or-radiological-emergency