President Ramaphosa Signs National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill

President Cyril Ramaphosa signed the National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill into law, which focuses on improving nuclear safety. The bill covers areas like cleaning up defense facilities and ensuring airline pilot safety.

This amendment is a key step in strengthening nuclear safety and bringing South Africa in line with international standards. The bill updates the National Nuclear Regulator Act of 1999 to match current global best practices set by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The alignment with international standards is important because South Africa is a founding member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and has signed various international agreements on nuclear safety, the presidency said, SA News reported.

The signing of the National Nuclear Regulator Amendment Bill means better protection for South Africans from risks related to nuclear materials and activities. In simple terms, the bill brings the following changes:

Safer Defence Facilities: Military sites or equipment that may have been exposed to nuclear materials will be cleaned and checked before being reused for civilian purposes to ensure they are safe and free from radiation risks.

Protection for Airline Crews: The law ensures that the exposure of pilots and cabin crew to cosmic radiation at high altitudes is closely monitored and regulated for their safety.

Stronger Oversight: The National Nuclear Regulator now has clearer guidelines and more authority to control nuclear-related activities, protecting people and the environment from harm.

Global Standards: The updated law ensures that South Africa follows international nuclear safety best practices, meeting the highest safety standards.

The new law gives the National Nuclear Regulator more responsibilities including overseeing the cleaning, decommissioning, and closing of national defense facilities, equipment and materials for civilian use.

The new law gives the Regulator the authority to ensure that property from the South African National Defence Force (SANDF), intended for civilian use, is safe and won't cause radiation harm. It also allows the Regulator to oversee the exposure of aircrew to cosmic radiation when flying below 49,000 feet.

The law also outlines how the Regulator's affairs should be managed including the board's term of office and the creation of board committees. It also expands the activities that require approval from the Regulator before they can be carried out.