South Africa to Secure Radioactive Material

South Africa is preparing to increase security of radioactive sources, to ensure they are not used to power a radiological “dirty bomb” during the 2010 World Cup, the BBC reported yesterday (see GSN, April 27, 2006).

The International Atomic Energy Agency gave the country the seal of approval for security at nuclear sites, but had “concerns” regarding safeguards at hospitals and other facilities that use radioactive material, according to South African nuclear chief Tselio Maqubela.

“We will be looking at that, particularly going towards the 2010 football World Cup, because part of the requirements is to have a nuclear security plan which would reduce the threat of dirty bombs,” he told lawmakers.

Dirty bombs use conventional explosives to disperse radioactive material.

South Africa is the only African nation with a nuclear power plant.  It plans to work with the U.N. nuclear watchdog to develop security plans for various radioactive sources, the BBC reported.

“We just need to make sure that our radioactive material never finds its way to undesirable elements,” Maqubela said (BBC, March 20).

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