Speaker, the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, Necsa, and its subsidiary, Radioisotopes, have won a US$25 million - R164,4 million in South African money - United States government contract to develop technology on the commercial production of the medical isotope, molybdenum-99, using proliferation resistant, low-enriched uranium.
Necsa will collaborate on the project with the Australian National Nuclear Research and Development organisation. The award from the United States Department of Energy's National Nuclear Security Administration comes amid an international shortage of molybdenum-99, as well as a United States-led drive to minimise the use of highly enriched uranium, which can be used in nuclear weapons.
The awarding of this contract is in recognition of the important contribution and the impact South African scientists and companies are making on a global scale. Thank you. [Applause.]