Kigali – Eswatini’s Minister of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, Jane Mkhonta-Simelane, has addressed the Nuclear Energy Institution of South Africa (NEISA) Conference in Rwanda, where discussions centred on effective regulatory cooperation in nuclear and radiation safety.
The minister was accompanied by board members Zwelethu Jele and Nhlanhla Nhlabatsi, as well as Chief Environmental Coordinator Constance Dlamini.
During her remarks, the minister called for stronger cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), regional partners and bilateral mechanisms, saying the Kingdom stood to benefit from learning best practices already established elsewhere.
She told delegates that Eswatini remains committed to clean energy solutions and is actively working to strengthen domestic energy security.
Mkhonta-Simelane also presented to the conference on the current state of Eswatini’s newly appointed regulatory body, which has been tasked with building capacity, ensuring safety and instilling public confidence in nuclear and radiation safety technologies. She outlined the training and capacity needs required for the body to carry out its mandate efficiently and in line with international standards.
The minister took time to thank the Rwandan government for its hospitality and for providing what she described as a vital platform for learning and networking.
“We are grateful for the support from the IAEA and the invaluable lessons learned from regional and bilateral collaborations,” she said.
“Together, through international, regional, and bilateral cooperation, we can build the institutional capacity to responsibly regulate advanced technologies and ensure a brighter, more sustainable future for Africa,” the minister added.
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