Question NW68 to the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
03 March 2022 - NW68
Mileham, Mr K to ask the Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy
1) On what grounds was a certain person (name furnished) suspended as a board member of the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) and (b) what are the reasons that the specified person was prevented from accessing board documents, minutes and files on 17 January 2022, a day before his suspension was served on 18 January 2022; 2) Whether he has found that the NNR Technical Subcommittee that approved the replacement of the Koeberg reactor head and steam generator on 18 January 2022 was properly constituted in light of the person’s suspension; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what are the relevant details; 3) Whether the person’s suspension has anything whatsoever to do with the Koeberg replacement decision; if not, what is the position in this regard; if so, what conflict of interest arises between the involvement of the person in the nuclear industry and the Koeberg decision? NW72E
Reply:
In response to questions 1(a) and 3:
Serious allegations of misconduct have been levelled against the board member, and I have been requested to consider exercising the powers afforded to me under section 9(1)(c) of the National Nuclear Regulator Act, Act no. 47 of 1999. The board member has been afforded an opportunity to fully respond to these allegations, which opportunity he has accepted. It would therefore be, at this time, premature and inappropriate to comment further on this matter.
In response to questions 1(b) and 2
The NNR has advised me that it is factually incorrect that the steam generator replacement approval was issued by the Technical Committee of the NNR board. Instead, the steam generator replacement approval is an operational decision concerning plant modification, which is not within the remit of the Technical Committee or the NNR board. The steam generator replacement approval was accordingly issued by the NNR Programme Manager responsible for Nuclear Power Plants on 18 January 2022, which was a day before the Technical Committee meeting.
The NNR has further advised me that the Technical Committee meeting of 19 January 2022 was properly constituted and quorate in accordance with the provisions of the National Nuclear Regulator Act, Act no. 47 of 1999.