Kelvin Kemm

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Kelvin Kemm

Dr Kemm is a nuclear physicist and is the CEO of Nuclear Africa (Pty) Ltd.

Kemm is the chairperson of the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation. He sits on the Board of Advisers of the Committee for A Constructive Tomorrow, based in Washington DC.

He is also a Board Member of GoNuclear Inc, and EFN: USA both based in Colorado, USA.

Exec@nuclearafrica.co.za

Nuclear build programme won’t be a ‘purchase’

11th March 2016 I have stressed time and again that the new nuclear programme is not a ‘purchase’. People in the media love to say how much the nuclear power plants will ‘cost,’ as if someone is going to take a truckload of cash and just pay it over to a foreigner and then return home with nuclear power plants,... →

All set for Nuclear Africa 2016

4th March 2016 Much more nuclear power is essential for South Africa, which is aiming for a massive increase in electricity consumption – at least 100%. In contrast, some European countries are aiming to reduce electricity consumption over the longer term. In Africa, we have to aim for massive infrastructure... →

I’m all for a new oil refinery in South Africa

26th February 2016 A while ago, I was tasked to carry out an investigation linked to the movement of oil and processed fuel into the country. It was not new to me; I had been involved in that sphere before, but it has been rolling around in my head. →

Antinuclear stance illogical and irrational

19th February 2016 As the nuclear debate continues, it really is an interesting exercise to examine the way in which the antinuclear lobby attacks nuclear power. Much of the time, there is virtually zero logic or rationality involved. There is just an emotional gut response. It is a most interesting phenomenon,... →

It’s time to find a real solution to water shortage

12th February 2016 The South African government received quite a pleasant surprise when it deposited some cash for drought relief in areas badly struck by the drought, and invited the public to contribute. The public poured millions into the fund, which it goes to show how much we all care for one another when any... →

It’s now time to go back to the moon, and on to Mars

5th February 2016 The Falcon 9 space rocket of Us company SpaceX has just completed another launch. The launch was totally successful, but the planned controlled landing back on earth not quite so successful, but to my mind very good. The rocket lifted its payload into orbit, which is what it had been contracted... →

SA’s nuclear programme making progress

29th January 2016 The exciting South African nuclear power development programme has taken a few major strides over the past few months. The environmental-impact assessment team have submitted their report concerning nuclear power sites. They have recommended that the best site to start with is the Thyspunt site,... →

Looking back on astounding innovations

22nd January 2016 While clearing out some old books, I happened to come across one that quoted some old science and technology comments. Some were interesting and some a bit amusing. One, dated 1957, said that radio, telephone and TV systems were becoming so good that they would soon be conveying information to... →

Global warming nothing but ghosts in the garden

15th January 2016 Last month, while the twenty-first Conference of the Parties (COP 21) turmoil was well on the go, I turned on the TV to watch more discussion on potential outcomes of the conference. What I saw were many sad faces predicting doom and making more and more ridiculous claims. Everyone seems to be a... →

Africans don’t need outsiders to show them the way, energy-wise

11th December 2015 I was invited to be a speaker at an antinuclear, progreen conference. The organiser told me that it was funded by European antinuclear groups and that about 15 countries were represented by the 70-odd delegates. I met representatives from African countries, such as Senegal, Tanzania and Mali, and... →

No search for the truth on global warming at COP 21

4th December 2015 The extreme green movement was celebrating in the US when President Barack Obama gave in to its demands and refused to allow the construction of the Keystone oil pipeline. Dressed in rabbit and polar bear outfits, the greens danced and sang in front of the White House. They said what a victory... →

Failure to strike a deal at COP 21 will be the best outcome for humanity

27th November 2015 The Paris twenty-first Conference of the Parties, or COP 2, is getting nearer. More and more people are hoping for ‘success’ at the conference. By this they mean that an international agreement will be signed, limiting carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. Such an agreement is supposed to ‘save the... →

Post Office on verge of collapse, courtesy of union leaders

20th November 2015 I read an article about the Communications Workers Union (CWU) threatening to strike yet again. A court subsequently issued an interdict against any wild-cat strike action. The CWU Gauteng chairperson, Velaphi Zulu, then stated that the union had no intention of obeying the court interdict. That... →

The case for nuclear

13th November 2015 I am writing this column sitting in the airport just outside Hanoi, in Vietnam. I was invited by the Vietnamese nuclear authority to attend a seminar and give a presentation on the development of a Vietnamese nuclear power infrastructure. There were two foreign guests in the nuclear project... →

Physics a game of measurement and numbers

6th November 2015 Physics as a science is a game of measurement and of numbers. Yes, there are philosophies and principles, but all has to eventually be reduced to an ability to actually measure and to assign numbers. Having said that, it is important to point out that one can get very different answers, depending... →

Reflections on taxis and traffic police

30th October 2015 I heard on the radio that October is national Transport Month. I do not quite know what one is supposed to do during Transport Month. Some people seem to think that you must use transport during Transport Month, and others that you must not use it. In Sandton, Gauteng, they closed a whole lot... →

We don’t need to inherit Germany’s nuclear mistakes

23rd October 2015 It is quite amazing to witness the degree of antinuclear paranoia among many segments of the pro-wind and pro-solar energy fraternities. I am in favour of nuclear power; it is the correct and wise solution for South Africa. I am not anti-wind or anti-solar, where these are applied correctly. I... →

Ex-Volkswagen CEO was a climate change fallacy victim

16th October 2015 German carmaker Volkswagen (VW) has been in the news for the wrong reasons. The company was accused of cheating on claims concerning the gaseous emissions of its cars. The emissions measurements are necessary in Europe and the US to show that the cars conform to legislated air-quality standards. →

We don’t need any climate deal in Paris to save mankind

9th October 2015 One regularly sees in the press various comment about the world environment conference to be held in Paris in December. It is known as COP 21, which stands for ‘the Twenty-First Conference of the Parties’. COP 17 was held in Durban, and I was a delegate there, so I know how these things... →

Exciting developments on the space front

2nd October 2015 Russian cosmonaut Gennady Padalka has just returned to earth from the International Space Station (ISS). He returned with two other crew members of the ISS. By the way, Russian space travellers are called cosmonauts, but Americans and other Westerners are called astronauts. What made Padalka’s... →

Nuclear professionals must communicate with the public

25th September 2015 I was invited to present an informal seminar to the Humansdorp Business Forum. It was most successful and I was really impressed to find a turnout of 120 people. It was an evening function in the Grill and Co restaurant, in the town of Humansdorp. There was a terrific spirit and the gathering... →

A lot of explanation needed on how nuclear benefits society

18th September 2015 Something that I find to be quite an amazing sociological phenomenon is the amount of real nonsense that floats about in public concerning nuclear power. At least there is a bit of comfort in the fact that it is not only our people who react so strangely. The same is true of folks in the US and... →

Where is our faith in South African engineers?

11th September 2015 I read a newspaper article by the communications officer of the Free State Department of Water and Sanitation. It was with mixed emotion that I read it. He appealed to people to ‘save’ water. That is okay. He then stated: “What if this was the last drop.” That is not okay. When will Water... →

Evidence of link between CO2 and global warming flimsy

4th September 2015 The COP 21 world climate conference is scheduled to take place in Paris this December. There is much comment in the media, with a variety of people expressing the hope that the conference will be a success and that a legally binding agreement will come out of the conference. What this will mean... →

Paperless classrooms the wrong way to go

28th August 2015 Recently, with much fanfare, computer tablets were distributed to a number of schools in Gauteng. Also supplied were electronic whiteboards for teachers. Enthusiastic people explained how much this would advance education. I am afraid that I do not agree. I have serious misgivings about this... →

Law-unto-themselves taxi drivers have to change their attitude

21st August 2015 The general irresponsibility of the minibus taxi industry has to be addressed as a matter of urgency. It is getting totally out of hand. Two recent made yet another impact on me. The one was a totally irresponsible action that resulted in the death of two people. The taxi driver responsible... →

Sanral an interesting (un)strategic planning case study

14th August 2015 I carry out strategic planning sessions for companies. I do fault analysis of projects or tactics which went wrong in order to advise on how to fix the snags. I also, from time to time, when invited, give business school courses on strategic and logical thinking and problem solving. In such... →

The power of modern forensics just not being used to fight crime

7th August 2015 I read a newspaper article which stated that the ballistics ‘fingerprinting’ of firearms may not be as foolproof as previously thought. My first reaction to this is to find it hard to believe. I have been in a ballistics laboratory and have looked through the microscope to see how it is done.... →

Nuclear radiation not as dangerous as some claim

31st July 2015 Next month marks seventieth anniversary of the dropping of two nuclear bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. What is rather interesting is that, over the years, from time to time, there have been gatherings of people who survived the Hiroshima blast. Most interesting is that, currently, there... →

Locals will benefit immensely from nuclear build programme

24th July 2015 Imagine that you run a canned-food factory and you decide to extend the plant by 25%. You will have to find a design team and building contractors. Or imagine that you are tasked with extending the Richards Bay harbour substantially and the estimate is that this will be a job valued at about... →

Technology is not all about complex machinery

17th July 2015 If you do not know where you are going, then any road will take you there. Technology is a scary word to most people because it immediately conjures up images of highly complex machinery with silicon chips and flashing lights. That certainly is technology, but so is the piece of rope in the bank... →

Solutions to our ills in which profit is a motive do work

10th July 2015 There are groups of people who love to attack business and industry leaders and to accuse them of being horrible, antisocial people, intent on profit only. They are painted as being uncaring of everything, except profits. By far the majority of business and industry people I interact with are not... →

Don’t dismiss Noakes diet plan out of hand

3rd July 2015 This whole Banting diet issue has been very much in the news for a while now. It was all precipitated by Professor Tim Noakes coming out in favour of aspects of the diet. It is somewhat entertaining to watch the whole thing unfold. We then had the Association for Dietetics in South Africa (Adsa)... →

Solar Impulse 2 proves you cannot rely on the sun for power

26th June 2015 The totally solar-powered aircraft, Solar Impulse 2, was built to be used in an attempt to fly around the world powered by solar power alone. I must say that this aircraft is a wonderful piece of technology and I marvel at the science and design which went into its construction. →

Use of consultants by govt yields the greatest benefit

19th June 2015 It has been mentioned in the press that the auditor-general believes that, since government departments were told to cut back on using consultants, spending has dropped considerably. I bet it has. What that could indicate is that much of the work that government departments intended to do was... →

No, Minister, long baths don’t waste water

12th June 2015 I read a newspaper story that stated that Water and Sanitation Minister Nomvula Mokonyane had told people not to sing in the shower because of wasted water. She apparently claimed that high income earners would stay in the shower until the end of their song and so wasted water unnecessarily. She... →

We need more logic to bear on day-to-day decision-making

5th June 2015 The concept of logic and the use of logic in everyday life are most important. Logic has taken centuries to evolve into the status which it has today. Logic is nowhere near as simple and as obvious as it may seem. I am forever hearing people say: “Well, it is obvious; it is logical”, when, in... →

Reflections on the Great Patriotic War

29th May 2015 We have just passed the dates of the seventieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe. I used the plural ‘dates’, because I have discovered that there are actually two. I was invited to a celebratory evening function by the Russian ambassador, which was most interesting. →

There is no link between CO2 emission and global warming

22nd May 2015 Government continues to talk of introducing a carbon tax on industry. The carbon tax is wrong and should not be introduced at all. The principle of the carbon tax is that it is supposed to ‘save the planet’. The idea is to inflict pain on industry for emitting carbon dioxide (CO2) gas so that... →

We need to demystify scientific principles for the benefit of the public

15th May 2015 In our modern world, there is more and more science penetrating the world of ordinary people. We have cellphones, TV remotes and the Internet. We also have washing machines, stoves and food mixers, which are now programmable or contain fancy sensors to automatically switch functions without human... →

Plaudits for OUTsurance, Radio 702 pointsmen

8th May 2015 I wish to compliment the pointsmen who are seen on duty at various traffic congestion points. They are terrific; I have watched them for the last couple of years. Of late, I have been seeing the pointsmen daily because the road is being upgraded near my office and, when I go home, they are on... →

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