The South African delegation, composed of the South African Nuclear Energy Corp.(NECSA), the National Nuclear Regulator(NNR), Nuclear Industries and North-West University, visited KAERI on October 25. They visited Korea to participated at the 1st Korea-South Africa Nuclear Cooperation Seminar  held in Seoul October 24-27 organized KONICOF. This seminar came to be organized following both countries’ agreement to hold the 1st Joint Seminar reached at the 1st ROK-SF Joint Nuclear Energy Coordination Meeting held in Pretoria in early July 2011

Dr. Rob Adam, CEO of NECSA, presented overall nuclear programs in South Africa, including its plan to construct the Dedicated Isotope Production Reactor(DIPR) in which KAERI has passed its rigorous pre-qualification with four other vendors, RI production full-cost recovery, Human Resources Development(HRD), High Temperature Reactor(HTR), NECSA’ commercialization R&D results, etc. Dr. Adam said that he has been greatly impressed with Korea’s huge positive nuclear technology localization and HRD programs.

Dr. Y.H. Jung, KAERI president, introduced the role KAERI has played in the achievement of nuclear technology self-reliance in Korea with its involvement in the scheme of joint design project.

At the KAERI-NECSA technical discussion session held on October 24 in Seoul, both sides considered that such topics as research neutron beam-line based research, isotope production reactor and application of isotopes and radiation technology in human health, industry and agriculture, SAFARI-1 lifetime extension and web-based training management system can be useful for further discussion for mutual cooperation.

As part of its plan to refurbish the SAFARI-1 lifetime extension, NECSA wishes to get information on future schemes for HANARO lifetime extension once materialized. Recognizing the recent global supply disruption of medical isotopes and also the importance of maintaining a unified position on this issue, NECSAs proposed that both sides jointly draft a position paper on ways to secure stable supply of medical isotope and then submit it to NEA before its high level meeting set for next year. The Korean side expressed its willingness to form an expert group tasked with drafting its position paper. NECSA expressed its wish to utilize KAERI’s radiography and cold neutron research facilities in the future for its own benefits and also to benchmark good practices employed at KAERI in operating them as user facilities.

They made a technical tour of KAERI facilities, namely, HANARO research reactor, Cold Neutron Research Facility and ATLAS facility.