SAFARI-1
Situated at the Pelindaba Research Centre in North West Province, South Africa, SAFARI-1 is a 20 MWth tank-type research reactor. It is one of the world’s top producers of Mo-99, a critical medical isotope, and has been fueled with low-enriched uranium (LEU) since 2009. Operational since 1965, it pl
Key Stats
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SAFARI-1
Status: OPERATIONAL Category: RESEARCH Country: South Africa [South Africa](/library/wiki/countries/South Africa) Operator: ntp-radioisotopes---necsa Type: Tank Tank Capacity: 20 MWth (thermal only)
Overview
Situated at the Pelindaba Research Centre in North West Province, South Africa, SAFARI-1 is a 20 MWth tank-type research reactor. It is one of the world’s top producers of Mo-99, a critical medical isotope, and has been fueled with low-enriched uranium (LEU) since 2009. Operational since 1965, it plays a vital role in global healthcare through isotope production and other research applications.
Key Facts
Notes
Pelindaba Research Centre, North West Province. One of the world's top five Mo-99 producers. LEU-fueled since 2009.
Source: IAEA PRIS / reactors_canonical · Enriched by Grok Last updated: 2026-05-10
Sources
- IAEA PRIS - SAFARI-1 — Official reactor data from the International Atomic Energy Agency's Power Reactor Information System.
- Wikipedia - SAFARI-1 — General overview and historical information on the SAFARI-1 research reactor.
- NECSA - SAFARI-1 — Official information from the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation, the operator of SAFARI-1.
- World Nuclear Association - South Africa — Country profile including details on SAFARI-1 and South Africa’s nuclear research capabilities.
- World Nuclear News - SAFARI-1 Conversion [UNVERIFIED] — Article on the conversion of SAFARI-1 to low-enriched uranium fuel in 2009.
Sources (1)
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