SOUTH AFRICA NUCLEAR STATUS: R&D AGREEMENTS AND

UNCLAS PRETORIA 003720 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT OF ENERGY FOR LPARKER E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG KNNP PARM PREL SF SUBJECT: SOUTH AFRICA NUCLEAR STATUS: R&D AGREEMENTS AND SPENT FUEL TAKE BACK REF: 05 PRETORIA 02923 ¶1. (U) Sensitive but Unclassified; Protect Accordingly. Not for Internet Distribution. ¶2. (SBU) Incoming and outgoing Econ M/C's and Econoff met 31 August with Tseliso Maqubela, Chief Director: Nuclear at the South African Department of Minerals and Energy (DME). Maqubela reported that the Research and Development Agreements on Nuclear Energy and Nuclear Material Safeguards Technologies are still under consideration by the South African Government (SAG) (reftel). Maqubela said there were no problems with the Nuclear Energy Cooperative Agreement. However, he stated that certain unnamed agencies within SAG needed to be sure that the Nuclear Material Safeguards Technologies Agreement did not conflict with government policies or interests. Maqubela could not promise when the agreements would be approved by SAG. Visiting USUNVIE COM Schulte raised the agreements during an August 25th meeting with DFA DDG Abdul Minty (septel). ¶3. (SBU) Maqubela reported that DME is reviewing a feasibility study from the U.S. Department of Energy to take back U.S.-origin spent nuclear fuel assemblies. He stated that the decision to return fuel will rest with Cabinet and that the decision will be guided by DME's Radioactive Waste Management Policy and Strategy, a copy of which was provided to Econoffs. The policy prohibits "in principle" both the import and export of radioactive waste, thus necessitating the Cabinet review. The policy requires consultation with the Ministries of Health, Environmental Affairs and Tourism, and Water Affairs and Forestry. Of concern to DME is a finding in the feasibility study that among the spent fuel assemblies are a small number of un-spent fresh fuel assemblies. Maqubela stated that inclusion of un-spent fuel assemblies complicates the approval decision because the policy covers only radioactive waste material, not fresh fuel. Maqubela noted that his staff is reviewing the feasibility study and hopes to make recommendations to the Minister of Minerals and Energy soon. Bost