NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

QUESTION 713

QUESTION FOR WRITTEN REPLY

713. Mr D J Maynier (DA) to ask the Minister of Energy:

(1) Whether the Government has a stock of weapons-grade uranium; if so, (a) how much has been stockpiled, (b) what is the purpose of stockpiling weapons-grade uranium and (c) how many nuclear weapons could be constructed with the stockpile of weapons-grade uranium;

(2) Whether the Government has a plan to dispose of the stockpile of weapons-grade uranium; if not, why not; if so, (a) when will the stockpile be disposed of and (b) what are the further relevant details of the plan;

(3) What safeguards are in place to ensure that the weapons-grade uranium stockpile does not become a proliferation risk?               NW840E

Reply

(1)(a) In 1994, the Republic of South Africa terminated their nuclear weapons programme.

1(b) South Africa is not engaged in stockpiling activities but rather has been using the remaining highly-enriched uranium (HEU) to produce radioisotopes largely for medical purposes. Currently these radioisotopes enable over R10 million's worth of treatments annually around the world for cancer patients and for patients who require precise imaging diagnostics.

1(c) None

2(a) The remaining HEU is being used to produce radioisotopes largely for medical purposes. Currently these radioisotopes enable over R10 million's worth of treatments annually around the world for cancer patients and for patients who require precise imaging diagnostics.

29(b) Does not apply.

3 Necsa has implemented appropriate physical security measures for the protection of the material. All material is under IAEA safeguards and the IAEA knows precisely what quantity of material is held by Necsa.

Issued by Parliament, April 26 2010

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