The National Nuclear Regulator is strengthening its capacity to enable efficient delivery of regulatory services for current operating plant, new nuclear build, decommissioning and waste management, and fuel cycle services. Over the last three years, the NNR has been engaged in a very important initiative to establish the 1^st Centre of Excellence for Nuclear Safety and Security(CNSS) in South Africa, in partnership with local and international academic institutions as well as other relevant stakeholders.

Currently, South Africa does not have a dedicated centre or institution for nuclear safety which provides, among other needs, a continuous supply of personnel trained in nuclear safety to serve the needs of the nuclear regulatory body and the nuclear industry in general. Other needs identified, include provision of continuous professional development programmes in Nuclear Safety, undertaking of Nuclear Safety research to support regulatory activities and decision making, as well as provision to technical support services in Nuclear Safety to the regulatory body and nuclear industry.

The CNSS is the first applied research and training establishment dedicated to developing essential skills demanded by South Africa’s nuclear sector outside the traditional university sector. It will house training facilities for NNR staff, a selection of state-of –the-art irradiation and analysis equipment for researchers and students to use, including analytical and inspection laboratories, computer modelling facilities, meeting and seminar rooms and office accommodation. Most importantly, the combination of facilities and divers expertise, which will be available through a network of collaborations with local and international institutions, will complement and significantly expand the nuclear research and education capability of South Africa’s academic institutions by providing universities the opportunity to enrich the scope and value of their research programmes. It is envisaged that this will increase the number of Masters, Doctoral and post-Doctoral graduates produced by local institutions and support the creation of knowledge based economy.