Eskom trains operators ready for new build
South African nuclear operator Eskom has launched a five-year project to train 100 nuclear power plant operators to support the country's current and future nuclear needs.
South African minister of public enterprises Lynne Brown formally launched the 2016 Eskom Nuclear Operator Pipeline project at the Koeberg nuclear power plant yesterday, where the 100 recruits began training as nuclear operators on 1 May.
Brown said the project, also referred to as Nuclear Project 100, will provide a platform for developing a robust nuclear operator pipeline for South Africa. "The program, spanning five years, aims to build a path to ensure that there are sufficient local nuclear resources to service the country’s present and future nuclear needs. After the five-year period, trainees will qualify as nuclear plant operators or will enter related career equivalents," she said. About 95% of the students are under 35 years of age.
Eskom chairman Baldwin Ngubane said the company supported national initiatives for South Africa's young people to develop new skills. "The country's new nuclear build will require additional resources for operations and the nuclear operator training program is geared towards ensuring that the South African youth [with] aspirations to access a career path in nuclear has a chance at realising his or her dreams," he said.
Koeberg is the only nuclear power plant in Africa, and the only one outside the USA with a training program accredited with the US-based Institute of Nuclear Power Operators' National Academy of Nuclear Training.
South African energy plans call for the construction of 9600 MWe of new nuclear capacity. Earlier this year, Eskom submitted site applications for nuclear installations at Thyspunt in the Eastern Cape and Duynefontein in the Western Cape to the country's National Nuclear Regulator.
Researched and written
by World Nuclear News
