Synchronising Nuclear Governance in SADC Member States Through Regional Cooperation

This research paper examines the state of nuclear governance across the 16 SADC member states, highlighting the disparities in their regulatory frameworks and the need for regional synchronisation. It focuses on the safety and security of uranium mining and the transport of radioactive materials, proposing that SADC provide a platform for cooperation to harmonise policies and improve regional emergency responses.

• SADC member states exhibit significant diversity in their nuclear capabilities, which the author categorizes into three groups: South Africa as a stand-alone state with an advanced industry; 10 countries developing regulatory frameworks (Angola, Botswana, DRC, Madagascar, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe); and five smaller states or island nations focused on applications (Comoros, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mauritius, and Seychelles).
• Uranium resources are widely distributed across the region, with Namibia and South Africa as primary producers. As of January 2019, estimated deposits (at $80–130/kg) included Namibia (448,300 tonnes), South Africa (320,900 tonnes), Botswana (87,200 tonnes), Tanzania (58,200 tonnes), Zambia (31,000 tonnes), and Malawi (6,200 tonnes).
• South Africa is the only SADC state currently operating a nuclear power plant and the only one providing nuclear safety and security assistance to other African countries, though it lacks a fixed program for such assistance.
• The transport of radioactive materials across borders is a critical vulnerability and a primary driver for regulatory synchronisation. For example, uranium ore from Malawi's Kayelekera mines travels approximately 5,000km through Zambia and Namibia to reach the port of Walvis Bay.
• The SADC Nuclear Regulators’ Network (SADC NRN), established in 2011, serves as a voluntary cooperative mechanism to formulate strategic approaches to nuclear safety, focusing on legal frameworks, uranium mining legacy issues, transport safety, and information management.
• The Information Tracking System (ITS), developed under EU Project MC 5.01/15B and deployed in eight SADC countries, provides a web-based method for tracking nuclear materials to prevent incidents, though its long-term sustainability depends on member states taking over running costs.
• The author recommends that SADC integrate nuclear safety measures into Pillar II (Infrastructure development in support of regional integration) of the SADC Regional Indicative Strategic Development Plan 2020–2030 (RISDP) to facilitate cross-border movements and energy resource management.
• The African Association of Competent Authorities (AACA) is being developed to create a common regulatory approach to the safe transport of radioactive materials, aiming to establish a network of regulators and share best practices across Africa.

APA

VELICHKOV, K. (2021). Synchronising Nuclear Governance in SADC Member States Through Regional Cooperation. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Occasional-Paper-332-velichkov.pdf

Chicago

VELICHKOV, KAMEN. Synchronising Nuclear Governance in SADC Member States Through Regional Cooperation. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2021. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Occasional-Paper-332-velichkov.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=VELICHKOV |first1=KAMEN |title=Synchronising Nuclear Governance in SADC Member States Through Regional Cooperation |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=October 2021 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Occasional-Paper-332-velichkov.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{velichkov2021synchronising, author = {VELICHKOV, KAMEN}, title = {{Synchronising Nuclear Governance in SADC Member States Through Regional Cooperation}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Occasional-Paper-332-velichkov.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }