South Africa · Pretoria · -25.800, 27.950

SAFARI-1

SAFARI-1, a research reactor (tank) in Pretoria, South Africa, with 20 MW of thermal power, operated by South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA). Operating, first critical in 1965.

It is the only research reactor operating in South Africa today; the country has shut down one other. It was the first research reactor in South Africa to go critical and is still operating 61 years later. It is one of 36 tank-type reactors operating worldwide, spread across 23 countries. Its declared uses include isotope production, neutron scattering, neutron radiography and silicon doping.

Country

South Africa

City

Pretoria

Type

Tank

Thermal power

20 MW

Operator

South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (NECSA)

Status

Operating

First criticality

1965

Purpose

Isotope production, neutron scattering, neutron radiography, silicon doping, transmutation, teaching, training, activation analysis, geochronology

See also: every research reactor in South Africa · How research reactors work