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

The South African Institute of International Affairs (SAIIA) hosted a hybrid conference on 13 May 2022 titled 'The Peaceful Application of Nuclear Science and Technology in the Development Agenda'. The event focused on the role of nuclear technology in Africa's development, emphasizing institutional regulation, the inclusion of women and youth, and the pursuit of 'nuclear justice' and disarmament.

• The African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) aims to promote regional regulations and capacity building, including the creation of a specialized institute within the Pan-African university to consolidate regional nuclear research initiatives.
• One-third of African countries have expressed interest in collaborating with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to implement nuclear energy strategies, while the African Regional Cooperative Agreement for Research, Development and Training (AFRA) has been adopted by 44 member states to accelerate socio-economic applications of nuclear technology.
• Nuclear technology is presented as a tool for climate change adaptation and health, specifically through the use of nuclear isotopes to improve agricultural water use and the application of nuclear medicine to address the cancer crisis in Africa.
• South Africa is identified as a global leader in nuclear medicine, with the claim that every three minutes a person worldwide is injected with nuclear medicine originating from the country.
• There is a significant need to demystify nuclear science for the general public and increase the involvement of women and youth, as they are often excluded from conversations or limited by educational barriers.
• The Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) is criticized for its discriminatory language between nuclear and non-nuclear states. Professor Jo-Ansie Van Wyk proposed 'nuclear justice', suggesting that states refusing to disarm should compensate by investing heavily in the development of peaceful nuclear applications for others.
• Technological solutions such as the HTMR 100 Pebble Bed Modular Reactor are highlighted for their ability to operate in landlocked areas or mining fields because they do not require large bodies of water for cooling.

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} }