No evidence of risk at trespassed South Africa nuclear plant – IAEA

A team of experts from the United Nations International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has found “no evidence” of threats to sensitive nuclear areas at a South African nuclear facility which was trespassed late last year.

The experts reached their conclusion following a visit to the Pelindaba nuclear facility, where armed men broke in on 8 November 2007.

Following the visit, conducted at the invitation of the South African authorities, the team concluded that “there was no evidence that sensitive nuclear areas were under any threat at any time during the incident,” the Agency said in a news release today.

The experts recommended specific proposals for security training and equipment to the South African authorities.

They also determined that a security upgrade plan at Pelindaba which has been in progress since 2006 provides an “appropriate basis” for ensuring physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities at the site.