As State-owned South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) marks the sixtieth anniversary of its SAFARI-1 research reactor, the entity is looking to build on the success of the reactor, with the setting up of a multipurpose research (MPR) reactor that is expected to bolster research, skills development and collaboration endeavours.

Located on the Necsa site, in Pelindaba, in the North West, the SAFARI-1 reactor is a 20 MW (thermal) multi-purpose tank-in-pool reactor that started operating on March 18, 1965.

It is largely used to produce medical isotopes used in nuclear medical procedures globally.

At a commemoration of the 60 years on March 25, successes outlined by Necsa included the reactor logging over four-million megawatt-hours without incident and producing medical isotopes that are vital for the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. It is one of four major global suppliers of medical-grade isotopes and posited to have saved up to ten-million lives in 60 countries.

In September 2021, Cabinet approved the setting up of the MPR project, which will succeed the current SAFARI-1 when it reaches the end of its life.

Concurrently, Necsa is also looking to extend the life of the SAFARI-1 reactor, for another decade or longer, with the licence for the asset expiring in December 2030.

It was highlighted that progress has been made with the MPR project. Most recently, in February, Necsa secured approval, as well as R1.2-billion in funding, from government for the second phase, which entails the detailed design.

Also under way is the registration of the project as a strategic infrastructure project, which is said to be at an advanced stage.

The new MPR facility will be a research reactor that will continue to provide irradiation and isotope production services, beam line facilities and other research capabilities. It also provides options to produce new radioisotopes for therapeutic nuclear medicine.

The MPR will also expand considerably on research capabilities and outputs with industries and academia.

The inclusion of a cold neutron source in the MPR will also make it the only cold-neutron source available in Africa, which is expected to pique collaboration interest across the region.

Mining and industry, power generation, agriculture, geosciences, forensics and education in South Africa will also have access to radioisotopes, neutron activation analysis, material modification and testing, neutron nondestructive testing facilities and a range of other applications that require a high flux nuclear reactor.

Speaking at the commemoration, Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa welcomed government’s funding commitment for the MPR and also called for it to be given a name that is chosen by the public.  

He also asserted that nuclear has the potential to be the backbone of the country and continent’s energy offering in future.