PARLIAMENTARY PORTFOLIO COMMITTEE ON MINERALS AND ENERGY

04 November 2005


Good Hope Chamber Building, Cape Town

REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE REGULATOR FOR 2004/5


M. Magugumela Nuclear Regulatory Authority


Summary of Presentation

· Background

· Highlights from the annual report for 2004/05

· Financial Performance in 2004/05

· Strategic Challenges

Financial Year


BACKGROUND


Mandate

Objects of the NNR (Section 5 NNR Act)

· Provide for the protection to persons, property and the environment against nuclear damage through the establishment of safety standards and regulatory practices

· Exercise regulatory control through the granting of Nuclear Authorizations

· Provide assurance of compliance with conditions of nuclear a uthorisations through compliance inspections

· Ensure that provisions for a nuclear emergency plan are in place

· Fulfil national obligations in respect of international instruments


Mandate

Functions of the NNR (section 7 NNR Act) Some from the list of a to j

· Advise the Minister on matters associated with any action or condition which is capable of causing nuclear damage, the Minister refers to NNR, NNR thinks necessary to advise

· Act as the national competent authority in connection with the IAEA's regulations for the safe transport of radioactive material

· Produce and submit to the Minister an annual public report on the health and safety related to workers, the public and the environment associated with all sites...


STRUCTURE OF NNR

PMG note: Graph (table, map, appendix) not included. Email [email protected] for this]


HIGHLIGHTS

· Safety Assurance

· Prospective Licensing Activities and Other Projects

· Human Resources

· Financial Performance for Fin Year 2004/05


Workers Exposures

· Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant

- There were no concerns regarding the safety of workers at Koeberg during the reporting period, the maximum annual dose accrued during 2004 was 7.7SmSv/a

- The trends over the last 5 years indicates that doses to workers has been decreasing.

· Necsa & Vaalputs

- There were no concerns regarding the safety of workers at Necsa and Vaalputs during the reporting period, the maximum annual dose accrued during 2004 was10.7mSv/a at Necsa & 2.29 msv/a at Vaalputs.

- The trends over the' last 5 years indicates that doses to workers has been decreasing. 5,


Workers Exposures

- There were still concerns regarding the safety of workers at Mines during the reporting period

- The trends though over the last 5 years indicates that doses to workers has been decreasing as shown below.

Year

No of workers (> 50 mSv/a)

2001

7931

2002

1133

2003

424

2004

3

Public Exposures

· Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant

- There were no concerns regarding the safety of public at Koeberg during the reporting period, the total individual annual projected dose during 2004 was 8.72 pSv/a

· Necsa & Vaalputs

- There were no concerns regarding the safety of public during the reporting period

- The total individual annual projected dose during 2004 was 9.87 pSv/a at Necsa and

- No measurable dose at Vaalputs


Public Exposures

· Mining & Mineral Processing Facilities

- There were no concerns regarding the safety of public in the Mining and Mineral processing facilities.


Radioactive Waste Safety

- There were no safety concerns regarding radioactive waste management at Koeberg

- There were no safety concerns regarding radioactive waste management at Necsa & Vaalputs

- There were no safety concerns regarding radioactive waste management at the mines


Prospective Licensing and Other Projects

Proposed Pebble Bed Modular Reactor-PBMR

· During the reporting period the NNR continued to review the nuclear installation licence application submitted by Eskom.

- Main activities linked to the resolution of Key Licensing Issues (KLIs) and safety issues identified by the NNR during the NNR review of the PBMR safety case.

· The issuing of the nuclear installation license for the proposed PBMR will be subject to the finalization of the NNR's public hearing process and the NNR's satisfa4ory assessment of the associated PBMR Safety Case to be presented to the' NNR by the applicant (Eskom).


Prospective Licensing and Other Projects

Proposed PBMR Fuel Plant

· During the applicant's reporting period the NNR continued to review the safety case documentation.

· The PBMR company has informed the NNR of its intent to apply for the Fuel Plant licence

- Formal application is awaited

· The issuing of the nuclear installation license for the proposed PBMR fuel plant will be subject to the finalization of the NNR's public hearing process and the NNR'& satisfactory assessment of the associated PBMR Safety.


Prospective Licensing and Other Projects

Nuclear Powered Vessel License Application

· During the reporting period the NNR issued one nuclear vessel license for HMS Turbulent to visit Simonstown naval base during June 24 to 29 June 2004.


International Activities

The NNR continued to participate in IAEA Safety Standard committees

- The Waste Safety Standards Committee (WASSC) - Chair

- Transport Safety Standards Committee (TRANSSC) - member

- Nuclear Safety Standards Committee (NUSSC) - member

Through these committees the NNR contributes to international forums for safety standards and also keeps the NNR abreast of changes


HUMAN RESOURCES


Over the past year, the NNR has focused on making changes to improve every aspect of the organisation's business. The focus has been on making changes within the framework of current legislation.


EQUITY


Total NNR composition

2004 2003

White males 22 26

Black males 27 24

White females 11 12

Black females 12 12


Included are 2 disabled permanent employees


FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE IN FINANCIAL YEAR 2004/2005


Financial Overview

i.Revenue (operating income) increased by R3.8 million to R52.5 million, representing a growth rate of 8%. Operating expenses for the year of R47.1 million have been contained well within the inflation rate, the overall increase year on year being 2%.


ii. The authorisation fees have increased steadily year on year at 8% whereas the state subsidy increased by 6%. This indicating the increasing dependence upon the authorisation fees for funding purposes.


iii. The non-current liability (provision) for retirement medical benefits has increased by R2.5 million to R25.3 million.


iv. Overall, the NNR has endeavoured to operate as best as the business constraints permit and the financial performance for the 2005 financial year bear testimony to this.


KEY STRATEGIC GOALS FOR THE FUTURE


Strategic Goals

Within its four strategic focus areas the key goals for 2004/5 will be:

Perform safety assessment to enable decision to grant or refuse nuclear authorisation perform inspections & audits as per schudules

Implement a communication strategy to ensure that the organisation continues to perform its mandate to the satisfaction of its stakeholders

Improve business management systems and processes to deliver its mandate effectively and efficiently

Special focus on capacity development and innovative mechanisms to recruit people to the employ of the NNR.


STRATEGIC CHALLENGES


Strategic Challenges