highlights

A multinational safety culture team under the leadership of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) successfully conducted an independent review of safety culture within PBMR. The purpose of this independent review was to benchmark PBMR against world best practice in safety culture. The team provided constructive feedback which is outlined in the safety culture section of this report.

Construction of the helium test facility was successfully concluded. Situated at Pelindaba in the North West province of South Africa, the helium test facility started operations on 26 March 2007.

The high pressure test unit of the heat transfer test facility at the University of the North West in Potchefstroom was successfully commissioned within budget and on schedule in August 2006. The facility has proved to be reliable in its purpose to deliver high quality test results.

Construction of the high temperature test unit started during the first quarter of 2006 and was completed in February 2007. Commissioning of this facility, also in Potchefstroom, is under way and the project is within budget and on schedule.

The design of the 5 kg coater facility has been completed and the coater is currently tested. The first uranium-containing (coater uranium) fuel spheres have already been manufactured at the laboratories using the 1 kg coater facility. Following the granting of an operating licence by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) and successful commissioning with uranium of the 5 kg coater facility, coated particles and fuel spheres for irradiation testing will be manufactured in 2007.

Necsa has obtained a positive record of decision for the environmental impact assessment submitted for fuel manufacturing by PBMR.

The growing development needs of PBMR necessitated ongoing alignment of resources, skills, processes and systems. During the past year, the organisation has relocated to new facilities to ensure a better, healthier working environment and to accommodate the growing number of employees.

PBMR is actively involved in the training of candidate engineers for registration by the Engineering Council of South Africa (ECSA). The mentorship programme is well advanced. Through this initiative, PBMR proactively develops the necessary skills and experience base in the nuclear and engineering environment.

A PBMR branch of the organisation Women in Nuclear South Africa (WiNSA) was launched in August 2006. This branch is known as Women in Nuclear – Pebble Bed Modular Reactor (WiNPBMR). PBMR has played and integral part in the national effort that has been launched to upgrade the nuclear industry’s manufacturing capabilities in South Africa. Agreement in principle has already been reached with some of the international suppliers to invest in local technology, skills, knowledge and capacity as part of the demonstration power plant offset programme. This will meet PBMR’s long-term supply needs, whilst promoting localisation.

Government’s financial commitment to the project was demonstrated during the 2007 budget process when R6 billion was set aside for PBMR over the next three years.

An updated business case has been developed and potential future investors are expected to start their due diligence process within the next financial year.

PBMR as part of a consortium led by Westinghouse was awarded a contract by the United States Department of Energy for the first phase of engineering work for the Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) at the Idaho National Laboratory.