Pretoria - The success of the world's nuclear energy programmes depends on the interest and capabilities of the youth in the industry.
Addressing the International Youth Nuclear Congress in Cape Town, Energy Minister Dipuo Peters, called on youth to participate in the industry.
She said the long term sustainability of nuclear energy relied on them and that they had role to play in informing the public about nuclear energy
The Minister said the conference had come at a time when climate change had put nuclear energy back on the agenda of the local and global nuclear society.
"The urgent need to reduce carbon emissions has led researchers and policymakers to increasingly focus their attention on the potential role of nuclear energy low carbon emissions worldwide and at the same time ensuring security of supply," Peters said.
Nuclear energy, as part of a balanced energy mix, was seen as a solution to the supply of energy and to climate change challenges, she added.
South Africa, through the Nuclear Energy Policy, was looking at expanding its nuclear energy programme; making South Africa globally competitive through the use of innovative nuclear energy systems; as well as reducing greenhouse gases.
The Minister noted that a nuclear expansion programme would only be successful if it addressed public perceptions and concerns and it was in this area that the youth could play a major role.
"We all know that the lack of information and knowledge is a primary source of fear in any setting and the nuclear sector is not exempt from this.
"This is why it essential that there is active participation of the youth around the world in the demystification of nuclear energy applications, be they power generation, medical, agricultural or industrial," Peters said.
The Minister added that at the heart of a successful, peaceful nuclear programme was public education and participation.
Peters singled out skills development and transfer as the most important aspects of a nuclear expansion programme.
"The nuclear industry in South Africa is relatively small. Therefore it is important that we ensure that we retain the talent that we have in this industry at the moment and we continue to attract, develop and deploy young talent to this industry," she said.
The Minister urged young professionals and their employers to ensure that companies had programmes in place to ensure skills development and transfer.
She encouraged the youth to make full use of the training opportunities available to them.
"There can be all these opportunities available but if there is no drive and passion to excel by the youth, then the sector will not grow but decline as the current experts retire and pass-on," Peters added.
She also called on the youth to participate in the various nuclear regulator and operator bodies.
Most nuclear plans were long term and it would be the youth that would find themselves either unprepared to continue with the plans or equipped to improve and extend them, the Minister added.
"I believe I am talking with the new generation of decision makers, regulators, operators, scientists and engineers. The importance of your involvement in this expanding nuclear program cannot be over-emphasised," she said.