| Popis: |
This chapter analyses South Africa’s approach to nuclear waste management. South Africa is the only African state that has a nuclear power program and produces nuclear waste. Therefore, other African States as well as other developing States around the world, which are in the process of acquiring nuclear capacity, could learn from the South African experience. South Africa is a member of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management (Joint Convention). It is therefore required to ‘ensure that during all stages of spent fuel and radioactive waste management there are effective defences against potential hazards so that individuals, society and the environment are protected from harmful effects of ionizing radiation, now and in the future, in such a way that the needs and aspirations of the present generation are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs and aspirations’. This objective clearly echoes a sustainable development approach to nuclear waste management and disposal, which is also in line with the general international approach to utilisation of natural resources for energy consumption. Most countries utilising nuclear energy do not have a long-term solution or process in place for nuclear waste disposal. This will ultimately place an undue burden on future generations to dispose of and process not only their own nuclear waste, but also that of previous generations. The chapter further argues that as long as South Africa does not have a long-term nuclear waste management plan in place, it is in direct violation of Article 1(ii) of the Joint Convention. |
