Pretoria – The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) should continue its leadership role in responding to Japan’s Fukushima incident following a devastating earthquake and tsunami, says Energy Minister Dipuo Peters.<\/p>\n
The minister arrived in Vienna, Austria, yesterday to participate in the IAEA ministerial conference on nuclear safety.<\/p>\n
Peters said the organisation needs to strengthen its ability to promote international cooperation as well as assisting member states, particularly those countries that are interested in developing or expanding nuclear power programmes.<\/p>\n
“We should be cognisant that the accident in Japan has resulted in wide spread concerns about the safety of nuclear power plants. It has raised a question of whether the envisaged nuclear renaissance will ever materialise.<\/p>\n
“Those of us operating nuclear power plants have a responsibility to show that we are committed to a strong safety culture. In this way, we can provide assurances to the public on the continued safe use of nuclear energy,” she said.<\/p>\n
Peters, who will be in Vienna until Friday, is accompanied by a delegation comprising senior officials within the department, the National Nuclear Regulator, permanent representative of South Africa at the UN in Vienna, Ambassador Xolisa Mabhongo, and the Nuclear Energy Corporation SA (Necsa).<\/p>\n
The meeting is part of initiatives by the IAEA in response to the May 2011 incident at the Fukushima-Daichi Nuclear facility.<\/p>\n
Peters will also participate in the Second Vienna Energy Forum held under the auspices of the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation, as well as the Ministerial Meeting on Energy and Green Industry, taking place parallel to the forum.<\/p>\n
Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula has been appointed acting Minister of Energy for the period that Peters will be out of the country. – BuaNews<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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