BusinessLive reports that the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has ordered the SA Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) to shut down production at its NTP Radiochemicals Complex for violating safety procedures.  

An inquiry is under way and NTP’s MD and two senior executives have been placed on special leave.  Meantime, NTP has had to source medical radioisotopes from competitors outside the country in order to maintain supplies to cancer patients.  NTP’s hydrogen-monitoring systems failed on 27 October, but it only notified the regulator on 30 October.  The NNR regarded this delay as a significant breach of safety procedures.  "We saw a breakdown in safety culture," said NNR’s manager for nuclear waste projects, Thiagan Pather.  Hydrogen is highly flammable and should be closely monitored, as a build-up of the gas could create an explosion.  There were at least two other failures to submit timeous reports to the NNR.  Production will resume only after the regulator is satisfied NTP has taken action to correct its failure to comply with regulatory requirements.

• Read this report by Tamar Kahn in full at BusinessLive

Get other news reports at the SA Labour News home page