Development of the South African Network for Nuclear Education, Science and Technology

South Africa has long been regarded as active in the nuclear industry with two operating power reactors and a research reactor. In recent years’ research and development projects, such as the PBMR, has established additional expertise in the country situated at various institutions often fragmenting the nuclear expertise in the country. A number of training and research facilities has also completed its research cycle and are in the process of being decommissioned. With the renewed interest in nuclear technology and the states position to complete the procurement of 9600MW of nuclear power before the end of the year, a need has arisen to capture all nuclear education and research in an educational network as well as establish new nuclear training and research facilities such as small training reactors and research laboratories. This expertise and research facilities was combined into SAN-NEST (South African Network for Nuclear Education, Science and Technology) for South Africa and the African continent, with links to AFRA-NEST. The paper reports on the successes and challenge of the establishment and operation of SAN-NEST.