But the first interest of a base load program will be to provide electricity to the population and the industry at an affordable price, allowing the strong development of the Country (Government is proposing a 7% GDP growth).

The nuclear program is an opportunity to boost growth at times of economic downturn, create hundreds of thousands of permanent jobs, develop vibrant, high-tech industries and research capacities, improve balance of trade from value added products, and meet future electricity demand in an environmentally friendly, affordable way. A nuclear program will oblige us to train not only post graduates and engineer but also technician and workers and artisans. The quality requirements of nuclear industry necessitate the highest skills in all competencies, thus creating skilled and well compensated jobs.

Skills developed during the course of development of the nuclear program are portable and will benefit greatly to other technology intensive and specialized industries in South Africa. Skills development in partnership with universities will also lead to more R&D capacity in South Africa.

Presented by Dr Yves Guenon Engineer and PhD in Physics Managing Director: AREVA South Africa

Dr Yves Guenon has over 30 years of experience in the energy industry. In the last decade, he has worked as a Business Development Director on a number of large-scale energy infrastructure development projects in Europe and Africa. He is currently the Director of Business Development in AREVA, the leading global nuclear energy company, with manufacturing facilities in 41 countries, and integrated capabilities in the full nuclear energy value chain. Since July 2010 Dr Guenon is the MD of AREVA South Africa.

In his current role, Dr Yves Guenon is responsible for the development of energy projects in South Africa. Prior to this, Dr Guenon was the Business Development Director and AREVA Vice President for Lithuania in charge of Baltic Countries and Poland. Dr Yves Guenon holds a PhD in physics from Sherbrooke University Canada and is an engineering graduate of the prestigious Institute National des Sciences Appliquées (INSA), Toulouse, France.