- The Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (NECSA) has launched a request for information (RFI) for the replacement of its ageing 20MW nuclear research reactor, Safari 1.
- NECSA is South Africa’s state owned nuclear company responsible for processing source material, including uranium enrichment, and co-operating with other institutions, locally and abroad, on nuclear and related matters for the promotion of socio-economic development in South Africa as well as R&D in the field of nuclear energy and radiation sciences.
- The new reactor will help maintain its position as one of the world’s top producers of Molybdenum-99 used in millions of diagnostic tests for cancer, heart disease and other illnesses worldwide.
The 20 MW Safari 1 research reactor is located at Pelindaba and has been in operation since 1965. In 2018, the plant was shut down by the auditor general due to safety concerns. Read more
The first step in the procurement process is to gauge appetite from a potential preferred supplier to construct a new multi-purpose reactor.
“The MPR will continue with the legacy of producing medical radioisotopes, which are used to treat thousands of patients diagnosed with cancer all over the world,” said Loyiso Tyabashe, group chief executive at NECSA.
Link to tender documents HERE
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
