Keynote Address: Ms Buyelwa Sonjica, MP, Minister of Minerals and Energy
• Programme Director
• Ambassadors and High Commissioners
• Heads of Regulatory Bodies in Africa
• Members of the IAEA
• NNR Board Directors
• African professionals
• Distinguished guests
• Ladies and Gentlemen
South Africa is proud to be host for the launch of this symbolic event on the African calendar.
On behalf of the government and people of South Africa, I am honoured to extend a warm welcome to all of you.
The Forum for Regulatory Bodies in Africa is an important platform which brings together African Professionals through the International Atomic Energy Agency at a high level to work towards a future in which our decisions and actions, are informed by coordinated, comprehensive and sustained efforts and for the benefit of the African continent.
Africa is the world's second largest continent and is richly endowed with human and material resources. It is an established fact that sustainable energy production is seriously at risk in the developing world, including Africa. Currently, the global increase in demand for uranium is rapidly transforming the African continent's political, economic and social landscape which has resulted in increased
opportunities for Africans.
The central role played by technology in economic development is increasingly acknowledged internationally, and there is no doubt that scientific knowledge and innovation could jump-start and sustain our continent's development process and ensure that we meet the Millennium Development Goals.
South Africa fully supports the safe use of sources of ionizing radiation and radioactive materials for socio economic development and at the same time we recognise and acknowledge the critical need for Africans to take ownership for the safe application of nuclear technology.
The need to establish the forum of regulators in the African region has been expressed by various African member states at the previous IAEA General
Conferences and in other informal consultation meetings to investigate and implement initiatives towards strengthening regulatory effectiveness for the regulatory oversight of nuclear and radiation safety on the African continent. I will elaborate on some on these aspects later on in my address. Of particular note is the preparatory meeting for the establishment of the Forum of Regulatory Bodies which was held on 02 October 2008 at the Vienna International Centre on the margins of the 2008 General Conference. In attendance, at that meeting, were heads of several national regulatory authorities for nuclear and radiation safety in Africa and other representatives from African countries as well as the IAEA Division for Africa Technical Cooperation The meeting took significant steps for establishing the Forum of Regulatory Bodies and further discussed on the required activities to develop the vision, mission, and by-laws of the Forum and define the future program areas and operational procedures.
The participants recognized that the establishment of the Forum of Regulatory Bodies in Africa is timely and will render a multitude of benefits, interalia, it will provide a platform for enhanced regional cooperation, will be instrumental for exchange of knowhow, information and relevant experience under a fairly comparable national contexts, and will also provide an excellent opportunity for
mutual support and coordination of regional initiatives, and leverage the development and utilization of regional resources and expertise.
In the statement by South Africa during the October 2008 General Conference, I mentioned that we look forward to the outcomes of this meeting that the pioneers for this forum had organised. It is indeed a great pleasure to deliver a brief address to launch the forum of Regulatory Bodies in Africa. The establishment of sound regulatory infrastructure for the control of radiation sources and occupational exposure control programme is a key prerequisite to enable member states to maximize their benefits from the peaceful applications of nuclear energy.
The initiative taken to establish a Forum of Regulatory Bodies in Africa is highly commendable and timely. South Africa, and the National Nuclear Regulator in particular, are actively involved in the activities of the IAEA AFRA Programme and the Experience Feedback from the AFRA initiatives will be valuable to the Forum of African Regulators in establishing its programme of work. Likewise the future initiatives to be undertaken by the Forum will, in my opinion, prove to be valuable to AFRA as well.
The South African National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has had in the past many useful interactions with various nuclear and radiation safety authorities on the African Continent; such interactions covering areas such as IAEA Radiation Safety Infrastructure Appraisal (RaSIA) missions, technical cooperation exchange programme such as fellowships, support in strengthening regulatory infrastructure in the region and other IAEA expert missions to various regulators in the region. The NNR is also actively involved in several international regulatory forums which can yield benefit to the effective operation of the African Regulators Forum.
The peaceful applications of nuclear energy have grown tremendously on the African continent in the past few years and the Continent is facing many challenges whichinclude the following:
• The Management of radioactive sources which include interalia the effective regulatory control of the movement of radioactive sources across the African continent as well as the safe storage and disposal of radioactive sources
• The increased demand for Uranium mining on the African continent which can exert undue pressure on the regulatory infrastructure of some countries to effectively regulate the industry
• Linked to Uranium mining and regulatory effectiveness the unauthorized movement of Uranium across the African continent without appropriate detection and monitoring is of international concern as this material might end up in clandestine activities
• At the last IAEA General Conference many African countries have expressed, in their National Statement, their interest to develop a Nuclear Power Programme. The development or strengthening of existing regulatory infrastructure is an important aspect towards the realization of such development.
• Many African national regulatory authorities for nuclear and radiation safety experience shortage of skills which is aggravated by the global resurgence in peaceful applications of nuclear energy and associated completion for already scares skills..
Within the above context the establishment of this forum will render a multitude of benefits. To mention a few;
• To share experience (good/bad practice) of discharging regulatory functions
• To gain from lessons learnt by others when establishing or strengthening regulatory infrastructure
• To promote the implementation of international standards and regulatory practices
• To optimize resources by setting up joint actions, inspections and peer reviews
• To develop common guidance and appropriate regulations
• To provide an input from the African continent to safety issues at international level and to raise a stronger voice in international debates.
I congratulate and thank the heads of Regulatory Bodies that took the initiative and
volunteered to carry out the preparatory work for the establishment of the Forum. At
this particular junction it is recommended that all regulatory bodies take ownership of
this initiative and play an active role to contribute and benefit from the network
created.
4I am truly honoured and thank you for affording me the privilege of delivering this key note address tonight.
On behalf of South Africa and the continent, I salute all African professionals who will work together in collaboration for the collective advancement of the African continent – Africa our time is Now!
I thank You. |
|
|
|