Safety and Security of Nuclear Facilities and Materials in Africa

The document examines the governance of nuclear safety and security in Africa, highlighting the roles of the Pelindaba Treaty, the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). It notes that while South Africa is currently the only operator of a nuclear power reactor on the continent, Egypt is constructing one and 16 other nations are investigating nuclear programmes. The brief identifies risks including radioactive waste management, the vulnerability of materials during transit, and the potential for human error, citing specific incidents at South Africa's Koeberg and Pelindaba facilities and Namibia's Rössing Uranium Mine. It recommends increased cooperation with the IAEA, ratification of the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM), and prioritising human resource training to prevent accidents.

• The Pelindaba Treaty is the primary continental governance document, establishing Africa as a nuclear-weapon-free zone and requiring parties to maintain high security standards for nuclear materials and facilities to prevent theft or unauthorized use.
• Nuclear power interest is growing across the continent; while South Africa is the sole current operator, Egypt is building a plant, and 16 other countries—including Algeria, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda—are exploring nuclear programmes.
• Nuclear materials in Africa are particularly vulnerable during transportation, with 52% of incidents recorded in the CNS database in 2019 occurring while materials were in transit.
• Human error remains a critical risk factor regardless of technological advances, as evidenced by a March 2022 incident at South Africa's Koeberg station where a technician cut a valve on the wrong reactor.
• The IAEA identifies significant shortcomings in African nuclear waste management, including inadequate regulatory infrastructure, incomplete waste inventories, and a lack of qualified staff.
• AFCONE is actively working to operationalise regional centres of excellence in nuclear security and implement national systems for the accounting and control of nuclear materials.

APA

Turianskyi, Y. (2022). Safety and Security of Nuclear Facilities and Materials in Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Policy-Insights-135-turianskyi.pdf

Chicago

Turianskyi, Yarik. Safety and Security of Nuclear Facilities and Materials in Africa. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2022. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Policy-Insights-135-turianskyi.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Turianskyi |first1=Yarik |title=Safety and Security of Nuclear Facilities and Materials in Africa |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=August 2022 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Policy-Insights-135-turianskyi.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{turianskyi2022safety, author = {Turianskyi, Yarik}, title = {{Safety and Security of Nuclear Facilities and Materials in Africa}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2022}, month = aug, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/Policy-Insights-135-turianskyi.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }