1. BRIEFING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
DEPARTMENT OF MINERALS AND ENERGY
BRIEFING OF THE PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE
ON THE RADIOACTIVE WASTE POLICY PROCESS
TB MAQUBELA
Minerals and Energy for Development and Prosperity

2. Vision Statement
Safe Management of Radioactive waste waste in accordance with National Objectives and International Principles.
Comprehensive Radwaste Governance Framework developed

3. Nuclear Energy Act, 1999
NEA – The Minister may make regulations prescribing the manner of management, storage and discarding of radioactive waste and irradiated nuclear fuel – In consultation with Ministers DWAF and DEAT.

4. Objectives of the Policy and Strategy
Comprehensive Long-Term solution to Radwaste
Safe Management
Adequate Provision for Radwaste
Institutional Framework
Focus mainly on High Level Waste

5. Sources of Radwaste Koeberg NECSA Mines Hospitals
Of this Spent fuel from Koeberg presents most challenge – Long Lived and Highly Radiotoxic

6. Status of Radwaste Management
Waste Managed Safely
Absence of Long Term Waste Management Strategy a challenge
Public understanding lacking
Capacity for long term management needs to be improved

7. Status of Radwaste Management
Spent Fuel (HLW) – Generated At Koeberg and at SAFARI at NECSA
Koeberg Spent fuel about 95% of spent fuel
Low and Intermediate Level Waste (LILW) from Koeberg disposed at Vaalputs
LILW from NECSA still on the Pelindaba site

8. Policy Principles Protection of Human Health Protection of Environment
Protection beyond Borders
Protection of future Generations
Burden on future Generations
National Legal Framework

9. Policy Principles cont.
Control of waste generation
Management of Interdependencies
Safety of Facilities
Polluter Pays
Transparency
Sound decision making

10. Policy Principles cont.
Precautionary Principle
No Import or Export
Cooperative Governance
International Cooperation
Public participation
Capacity building and education

11. Proposed Governance Structures
Executive Coordinating Committee
National Nuclear Regulator
National Radwaste Agency/NECSA Division

12. FUNDING – Polluter Pays
ESKOM has funds for Koeberg waste and D&D
Fund at over R1.5 Billion Rand
Proposal for a National Waste Fund
Managed by Govt. appointed entity and to operate Independently
All generators to contribute to the fund.

13. Policy Pronouncements
Vaalputs continues to be used for Low and Intermediate Level Waste
No other interim storage site for High Level Waste
Three options proposed for further investigation for High Level Waste:
Above Ground Interim Storage (AGIS)
Deep Geological Disposal (DFD)
Reprocessing Conditioning and Recycling (RCR)

14. Attributes of Above Ground Interim Storage
Waste can be Stored offsite
Allows for development of new technologies
Least cost option but similar to “do nothing”
Not a Permanent Solution
May burden future generations

15. Attributes of Direct Spent Fuel Disposal
Most accepted option worldwide
South African Mining experience would come in handy
Could Add to job creation in Nuclear sector
Leaves a more manageable legacy for future generations
Major Challenges on choosing a Site

16. Attributes of Reprocessing Conditioning and Recycling
Extracts Uranium and plutonium from spent fuel
Bulk of toxicity is removed
Reduces waste volume considerably
Some Proliferation concerns
No Capacity currently in South Africa
Upfront spending required and done overseas (France and the UK)

17. Challenging Issues Which option out of the Three? Funding Mechanism
Agency or NECSA
Public Participation
Capacity Building – Radwaste specific
Integration of Mining Waste

18. Status of Policy Doc Published for Comment
Capacity Building workshops conducted
Comments reviewed and responses prepared
Document being revised and then will be sent to Cabinet for approval