Conference report: The Peaceful Application of Nuclear Science and Technology in the Development Agenda

The conference addressed the role of nuclear science and technology in Africa's development, focusing on institutional regulation, the inclusion of women and youth, and the future of nuclear energy and disarmament. Key discussions highlighted the potential of nuclear power to address energy deficits and the use of nuclear isotopes for climate change adaptation in agriculture. Panellists emphasized the need for 'nuclear justice' and the demystification of nuclear technology to overcome public fear and institutional roadblocks.

• The African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) is working with the UN and IAEA on nuclear technology safeguards in Africa and aims to establish a specialized institute within the Pan-African university to consolidate regional nuclear research initiatives.
• There is a significant lack of public understanding regarding the peaceful uses of nuclear science, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, necessitating increased communication, civil society involvement, and education to demystify the technology.
• Nuclear technology offers specific developmental benefits for Africa, including the use of isotopes to improve agricultural water use as a climate change adaptation and the application of nuclear medicine, with South Africa being a leading global exporter of the latter.
• Nuclear energy is presented as a viable solution for Africa's energy access challenges and South Africa's load shedding; specifically, the HTMR 100 Pebble Bed Modular Reactor is noted for its ability to operate in landlocked areas because it does not require large bodies of water for cooling.
• Critics of the current Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) argue it contains 'discriminatory language' that distinguishes between nuclear and non-nuclear states, leading to a proposal for 'nuclear justice' where nuclear states that do not disarm should invest heavily in the peaceful nuclear development of others.
• The African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training related to Nuclear Science and Technology (AFRA) has been adopted by 44 member states to accelerate regional subsidiaries and maximize existing infrastructure for socio-economic applications.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2022). Conference report: The Peaceful Application of Nuclear Science and Technology in the Development Agenda. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Event-report-A4D-conference-13-May.pdf

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Conference report: The Peaceful Application of Nuclear Science and Technology in the Development Agenda. 2022. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Event-report-A4D-conference-13-May.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Conference report: The Peaceful Application of Nuclear Science and Technology in the Development Agenda |date=13 May 2022 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Event-report-A4D-conference-13-May.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2022conference, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Conference report: The Peaceful Application of Nuclear Science and Technology in the Development Agenda}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2022}, month = may, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Event-report-A4D-conference-13-May.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }