OREANDA-NEWS. Rosatom Africa in conjunction with the Faculty of Engineering at North-West University (NWU) have officially opened the entries to a National Essay Competition entitled “Fulfilling energy needs and developing nuclear industry in South Africa”, the competition is aimed at young engineers and scientists.

Viktor Polikarpov, Ruatom International Network regional vice-president noted that the competition is intended to increase the popularity of technical and engineering professions and raise awareness around the  modern nuclear technologies available. "We invite all undergraduate and graduate students across the country, who are interested in developing South Africa’s energy sector or who are fascinated by the thought of using nuclear technology in the fields of industry, medicine, biology and agriculture, to enter”.

Contestants can address one of 5 topics from an, a) technical, b) economic, c) social approach:
?           Cost of electrical energy for households: 3 scenarios of different energy mixes in South Africa for the period 2020-2030 and its effect on cost, both in the long term and short term;
?            What is the maximum level of localization of NPP construction achievable in South Africa and what industries will benefit the most from it in the next 10 years and why?;
?            Other types of the nuclear technology applications that have the potential to evolve in South Africa and why this would be feasible;
?            Clean and effective: comparison of environmental impacts of different energy sources;
?           The South African public’s perception of nuclear energy and the nuclear industry as a whole. What can help shape objective public opinion towards peaceful nuclear technologies?

The jury panel is headed by Vladimir Artisyuk, Vice-Rector of the Rosatom central institute for continuing education and training. Panel members include, Viktor Polikarpov, Rusatom International Network regional vice-president, Ivan Dybov, Vice-President of Rusatom International Network, NWU academicians Prof. Harry Wichers, Dr. Dmitri Bessarabov and Dr. Anthonie Cilliers.

All submissions should be sent via email to; nuclearcontestsa@gmail.com by the 1st of March 2015. Each contestant may submit one essay of up to 2 500 words, which should be accompanied by a 350-word introduction to the essay, short CV and contact details.

The results of the competition will be announced early May 2015. The top three entrants and their supervisors will be awarded a trip to Russia, to visit a number of Russian nuclear energy power complex sites including, a nuclear power plant (NPP), a reactor model, nuclear fuel plant and a whole lot more, the winners will also receive a commemorative prize.

Dr. Anthonie Cilliers, North-West University program manager, added that the competition encourages young engineers and scientists to tackle the energy problems currently faced by our country head on and find potential for the nuclear industry as a whole. “We are confident that the first-hand research and analysis done by the students on the problems faced by all South Africans on a daily basis will provide the students with a renewed confidence in their future in the field of engineering and science”.

North-West University started cooperation with Rosatom in 2013 by signing a memorandum that includes mutually beneficial programs, such as, cooperation in scientific research work, exchange of specialists, joint seminars, joint text books and preparation of specialists.