Question NW494 to the Minister of Energy

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20 April 2018 - NW494

Profile picture: Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP

Van der Westhuizen, Mr AP to ask the Minister of Energy

(a) What are the reason(s) that production at the Nuclear Energy Corporation’s facility at Pelindaba has been shut down, (b) on what date did production cease and (c) on what date is it expected to be restored; (2) (a) what has been the estimated total loss of income since the date of shutdown and (b) what percentage of the facility’s income is normally generated in foreign currency; (3) (a) what is the average monthly operating costs for the facility and (b) what will the total additional cost be to bring the facility back into production; (4) (a) who is to be held accountable for this shutdown and loss of income and (b) how will future shutdowns of this nature be prevented; (5) what actions have been undertaken to assist existing clients to find alternative sources of products normally produced at Pelindaba, particularly Technetium-99 generators for use in the field of nuclear medicine?

Reply:

The facility was temporarily shut down on 17 November 2017 as a result of non-adherence to some standard operating procedures (SOPs). Production trial runs commenced on 21 February 2018.

The estimated total revenue loss for NTP Radioisotopes (SOC) Ltd is about R250 million. 92.7% of the total revenue is generated in foreign currency. The average monthly fixed costs for NTP Radioisotopes (SOC) Ltd amount to R32 million.

The NTP Board commissioned an investigation to determine the root cause of the incident. Internal oversight for Quality Control, Quality Assurance, Nuclear Safety assurance will be strengthened throughout the organization and regular compliance and assurance exercise conducted.

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