Safety of nuclear power reactors in the context of the South African Pebble Bed Modular Reactor—PBMR

The National Nuclear Regulator has received a nuclear installation licence application from Eskom (the South African electricity utility) for a high temperature gas cooled modular reactor making use of the so called pebble bed reactor type design (PBMR) coupled with a direct cycle gas turbine generator. In order to determine if such a design is licensable, it is necessary to clearly identify the licensing requirements for such a power reactor and to elaborate the processes that must be undertaken to demonstrate compliance with the requirements.