PRETORIA, December 24 (ANA) – Energy Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson has reappointed Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa (Necsa) CEO Phumzile Tshelane for a three-year term with effect from January 1, 2017.
In a statement on Saturday, she also announced the appointment of Christopher Forlee as CEO of the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) for a five-year period, also with effect from January 1, 2017.
Necsa is a state-owned entity (SOE) established in terms of section 3 of the Nuclear Energy Act, mandated to perform research and development in the field of nuclear energy and radiation sciences and technology.
“Necsa has recently been designated by Cabinet as the owner-operator of the nuclear fuel cycle and the multi-purpose reactor, which is a critical element of the country’s nuclear new build programme,” she said.
The re-appointment of Tshelane to serve a second and final term of office as Necsa CEO was supported by the Necsa board and was approved by Cabinet on December 7.
“Mr Tshelane, a highly experienced senior nuclear physicist, brings with him a wealth of experience in the nuclear industry and his reappointment as CEO will provide the organisation with valuable continuity and stability during this critical period of nuclear new build programme.”
Turning to Nersa, Joemat-Pettersson said Nersa was a regulatory body established in terms of section 3 of the National Energy Regulator Act, set up to regulate the petroleum pipelines industry, the piped-gas industry, and the electricity industry.
Forlee’s appointment was also approved by Cabinet on December 7, subsequent to a comprehensive recruitment process overseen by the energy department in collaboration with the Nersa board.
“Mr Forlee is currently the acting full-time regulator member responsible for regulation of the petroleum pipelines industry within Nersa. He is a highly experienced executive previously employed at various institutions within the energy sector, including, BP South Africa (Pty) Ltd as manager: regulatory affairs, the department of public enterprises as deputy director general: energy and broadband, and Eskom as chief energy consultant,” she said.
– African News Agency (ANA)
