SAFARI-1
{{Short description|South African nuclear research reactor}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = SAFARI-1
| name_official = South African Fundamental Atomic Research Installation 1{{cite web|title=Nuclear research for a sustainable future|url=http://www.necsa.co.za/Portals/1/Documents/4d04001c-20fd-40a5-a871-04daa8447ab5.pdf|publisher=South African Nuclear Energy Corporation|accessdate=25 November 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120419144926/http://www.necsa.co.za/Portals/1/Documents/4d04001c-20fd-40a5-a871-04daa8447ab5.pdf|archive-date=19 April 2012|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|title=Obama praises SA on nuclear disarmament|url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=7468:obama-praises-sa-on-nuclear-disarmament&catid=54:Governance&Itemid=118|publisher=defenceWeb|accessdate=25 November 2012|date=12 April 2010}}
| image = Pelindaba-geboue.jpg
| image_size =
| image_caption = Buildings housing the SAFARI-1 reactor
| image_alt =
| coordinates = {{coord|25|48|0|S|27|57|0|E|type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = South Africa
| location = Pelindaba, North West (South African province)
| status = Operational
| construction_began = 1961
| commissioned = 1965
| decommissioned =
| cost =
| owner =
| operator = NECSA
| ps_units_uc =
| ps_units_planned=
| ps_units_decommissioned =
| np_reactor_type =
| np_reactor_supplier =
| ps_units_manu_model =
| ps_electrical_capacity = 20 MW
| ps_electrical_cap_fac =
| website = {{url|www.necsa.co.za}}
| extra =
}}
SAFARI-1 is a 20 MW light water-cooled, beryllium reflected, pool-type research reactor, initially used for high level nuclear physics research programmes and was commissioned in 1965.{{cite web|url=http://www.nrpa.no/symposium/abstracts/Charles%20Piani%20-%20South%20African%20Nuclear%20Energy%20Corporation%20(Necsa),%20Pelindaba%20South%20Africa.doc|title=SAFARI-1: Conversion to LEU|publisher=South African Nuclear Energy Corporation|accessdate=2008-12-03|archive-date=2011-07-24|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724182616/http://www.nrpa.no/symposium/abstracts/Charles%20Piani%20-%20South%20African%20Nuclear%20Energy%20Corporation%20(Necsa),%20Pelindaba%20South%20Africa.doc|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2005/05072012151001.htm|title=Minister of Minerals and Energy announces the phasing out of the use of High Enriched Uranium for the Pelindaba Research Reactor Nuclear Fuel|date=2005-07-18|publisher=South African Government Information|accessdate=2008-12-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604095518/http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/2005/05072012151001.htm|archive-date=2011-06-04|url-status=dead}}
The reactor is owned and operated by South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA) at their facility in Pelindaba, South Africa.
The reactor is a tank in pool type reactor{{cite web|url=http://www.igorr.com/home/liblocal/docs/Proceeding/Meeting%208/ouo_06.pdf|title=REACTOR OPERATIONS AT SAFARI-1|last=Vlok|first=JWH|publisher=Manager: Reactor Operations SAFARI-1 Research Reactor NECSA|accessdate=2008-12-04|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713005208/http://www.igorr.com/home/liblocal/docs/Proceeding/Meeting%208/ouo_06.pdf|archive-date=2011-07-13|url-status=dead}} and is designed to run on enriched uranium. Currently the fuel in use is the remains of the decommissioned South African nuclear weapons.
History
The reactor was built in cooperation with the Atoms for Peace program run by the US Dept Of Energy in the 1950s and '60s.{{cite book|title=FROM DEFENCE TO DEVELOPMENT — Redirecting Military Resources in South Africa|editor=David Philip|publisher=CRDI|year=1998|chapter=Ch. 9. Apartheid’s nuclear arsenal: Deviation from development|isbn=1-55250-151-5|chapter-url=http://www.idrc.ca/fr/ev-68076-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html|accessdate=2008-12-03|archive-date=2006-12-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061203075544/http://www.idrc.ca/fr/ev-68076-201-1-DO_TOPIC.html|url-status=dead}}
Planning started in 1960 and construction occurred between 1961 and 1965. In March 1965 the reactor was commissioned and initially operated at 6.75 MW, a limitation imposed by the capacity of the secondary cooling circuit. Output was increased to 20 MW in 1968 after the secondary cooling circuit was upgraded.
Initially the reactor was fueled with High Enriched uranium (HEU) supplied by the United States, but in 1975 exports of HEU from the USA to South Africa was suspended in protest of South Africa's nuclear weapons program and the construction of the Valindaba Y-plant. In order to conserve the available fuel supply, reactor output was reduced to 5 MW and operating hours were dramatically reduced {{cite journal |last= Cochran |first= Thomas B. |year=1994|title=Highly Enriched Uranium Production for South African Nuclear Weapons |journal= Science & Global Security |publisher=Gordon and Breach Science Publishers B.A. |volume= 4|issue= 2 |pages=161–176 |url= http://docs.nrdc.org/nuclear/files/nuc_10139301a_116.pdf |accessdate=2008-12-04|doi= 10.1080/08929889408426398|bibcode= 1994S&GS....4..161C }}
In 1979 the Valindaba Y-plant started producing 45% HEU and in 1981 the first fuel assemblies from Valindaba were made available to fuel SAFARI-1. Operating hours were increased, but power was kept at 5 MW until 1993 when it was increased to 10 MW and eventually 20 MW due to the commercialisation of NECSA operations.
The reactor was shut down for repairs in 1988 after a water leak was detected in the pool.
In 2005 it was announced that the reactor is to be converted from using High Enriched uranium to Low Enriched uranium as fuel.{{cite web|url=http://www.rertr.anl.gov/RERTR29/PDF/2-6_Piani.pdf|title=SAFARI-1: Achieving Conversion to LEU — A Local Challenge |publisher=South African Nuclear Energy Corporation|accessdate= 2008-12-03}}
Use
One of Safari-1s primary uses is the production of radio isotopes for radiopharmacology use in nuclear medicine, specifically the production of molybdenum-99.{{cite journal|date=December 1996|title=Molybdenum-99 production in South Africa |journal=European Journal of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging|volume= 23 |issue= 12 |pages=1681–1687|issn=1619-7089 |doi=10.1007/BF01249633 |last1=Iturralde |first1=Mario P.|s2cid=28154691 }}{{cite news |url=http://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/South-Africa-to-resume-radioisotope-production |title=South Africa to resume radioisotope production |publisher=World Nuclear News |date=19 November 2018 |accessdate=20 November 2018}}
Radio isotopes are distributed through NTP Radioisotopes, a subsidiary company of NECSA
See also
References
{{reflist|30em}}
External links
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20080907025244/http://www.nti.org/e_research/profiles/SAfrica/Nuclear/2144_3762.html SAFARI-1] at the Nuclear Threat Initiative
- [http://www.radioisotopes.co.za NTP Radioisotopes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130812151339/http://radioisotopes.co.za/ |date=2013-08-12 }}
- [http://www.rertr.anl.gov/index.html Reduced Enrichment for Research and Test Reactors Program]
- [http://www.wilsoncenter.org/nuclear-history-documents/ The Woodrow Wilson Center's Nuclear Proliferation International History Project] or NPIHP is a global network of individuals and institutions engaged in the study of international nuclear history through archival documents, oral history interviews and other empirical sources.
{{South African nuclear sites}}
{{authority control}}
Category:Nuclear research reactors
Category:Nuclear technology in South Africa
Category:South African nuclear sites
Category:Research in South Africa
Category:Buildings and structures in North West (South African province)