Pelindaba

25°48′2″S 27°56′2″E / 25.80056°S 27.93389°E / -25.80056; 27.93389

Pelindaba ("Pelile Ndaba", Zulu for "end of story" or "the conclusion") is

The research reactor SAFARI-1 was received from the U.S., constructed and inaugurated in 1965.^[2] Since then, it has operated with an output of up to 20 MW.^[3][4] The reactor cost $10.5 million.^[5] Enriched uranium for use in the reactor was initially supplied by the U.S. and has been subject to IAEA safeguards.^[6]

At the time of Pelindaba's inauguration, future cooperation between France and South Africa on nuclear technology was anticipated.^[7] That relationship ultimately lead to the establishment of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station.

While the official purpose of the Pelindaba facility was "to harness the versatile power of the atom and apply it to maximum peaceful advantage" it was also speculated that South Africa could produce its own atomic weapons by 1966.^[8]

In 1966, Pelindaba reported detecting elevated levels of radiation following

In 1971, the Chairman of the South African Atomic Energy board, Abraham J. A. Roux, stated that long hair would not be tolerated in the workplace at Pelindaba.[12]

In 1975, Pelindaba ordered shipments of weapons grade uranium from the U.S., specified for "peaceful uses only". It was to be supplied on condition that any plutonium produced from its fission be returned to the U.S.^[13] 27 months later, no shipments had been received.^[14]

In 1975, Prime Minister John Vorster said that he expected South Africa to have new uranium enrichment capacity by 1983. He stated that while South Africa was seeking international partners in its enrichment program, it would "go it alone" if necessary.^[15] The enrichment process developed at Pelindaba promised to provide major efficiency gains over prior centrifugal processes.^[16]

In 1977, Finance Minister

In 1984, the Associated Press reported that South Africa had refused international inspections of facilities at Pelindaba and associated enrichment works at Valindaba.^[19] In 1988, the New York Times reported that the SAFARI-1 reactor at Pelindaba was regularly inspected by the IAEA.^[20]

In 1992, it was revealed that the Valindaba facility had enriched uranium for the manufacture of nuclear weapons. The plant was operational from 1975 until 1990.^[21]

In 1996, the Associated Press described Pelindaba as the place "once at the heart of South Africa's (nuclear) weapons program".^[22]

The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) was established as a public company by the Republic of South Africa in 1999.

A 4 MV Van de Graaff particle accelerator operates at Pelindaba for various purposes in nuclear sciences.

Incidents

1986 fire

In 1986, a fire at Pelindaba killed two cleaning staff and injured two other personnel. No radioactive releases occurred during the incident.^[23]

1994 theft of residue barrels

In August 1994, barrels containing "enriched uranium residue" were stolen from Pelindaba. The theft was detected on 16 August. The contents of 30 barrels were discovered dumped near Pelindaba and as of 4 September, 100 barrels remained missing.^[24]

1996 accident

An accident at the Pelindaba research facility exposed workers to radiation. Harold Daniels and several others died from radiation burns and cancers related to the exposure.^[25]

2007 armed attack

Shortly after midnight on 8 November 2007, four armed men entered the facility and headed towards a control room in the eastern block.

On 16 March 2009, a leak of radioactive gases from Pelindaba was reported by NECSA. Abnormal levels of gamma radiation associated with xenon and krypton gases were detected, causing an emergency to be declared. Members of staff were evacuated.[29]^[30]

See also

• Valindaba
• Treaty of Pelindaba
  – African Nuclear Weapons Free Zone Treaty
• South Africa and weapons of mass destruction

References