When I tell someone that I work with radiation, almost always the first reaction is: “Do you glow in the dark?” The public’s perception of nuclear power is that it is risky and dangerous. Defences against nuclear threats to safety and security need to be incorporated into the design of new nuclear facilities.

Eskom invests considerable amounts in new plants to ensure a reliable supply of energy for SA's developing economy. It also maintains current plants, replaces old technology, and ensures environmentally responsible energy generation. But the electricity price has on average already increased by more than 300% in nominal terms over the past five years since 2007.

New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, "The Future of Namibia and Energy", finds that the Namibian government currently imports over half of its total electricity needs. The discovery of the Kudu gas field and anticipated oil resources could help the country achieve greater energy self-sufficiency and reduce its dependence on imports.

Sugar cane is one of the crops that the SA Biofuels Strategy has identified for ethanol production because of its high productivity per unit area of land compared to other crops. It also contains high amounts of sugar, which can be fermented directly by yeast to produce ethanol.

There is a significant drive for establishing a range of alternative energy technologies, through solar and wind energy ventures, but the skills needed to assess and maintain these systems is seriously lacking.