/ 15 March 2007

SA’s nuclear workforce is ageing

South Africa needs to step up its development of people working in the field of nuclear energy and technology, Minister of Science and Technology Mosibudi Mangena said on Thursday.

Opening the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy conference at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, Gauteng, Mangena said the country’s nuclear workforce is ageing quickly.

”While we are infinitely proud of the human capital we have, we must admit that there remains a clear and present challenge of accelerating the development of nuclear human-capital capacity in our country,” he said.

Mangena said various new projects and programmes will require additional trained people to work in the field.

”Notwithstanding the substantial capacity that exists, there is a danger that this will be eroded if we do not collectively prioritise human-capital development initiatives,” he said.

The Pebble-Bed Modular Reactor (PBMR) is one of the rapidly developing projects.

”The rapid development of the PBMR programme over the last few years, from a mere idea to a company and project that is attracting international interest and admiration, bears testimony to the continued strength of South Africa in nuclear science and technology,” Mangena said.

He also cited several other programmes such as the development of isotope labelling to map underground water resources; controlling the populations of pests such as the tsetse fly and the fruit fly through the sterile-insect technique; and the early detection of tuberculosis using nuclear-based diagnostic techniques. — Sapa