Draft Nuclear Energy Amendment Bill Published for Public Comment

Posted 22 May 2026 Written by Acts Online
Category Minerals & Energy

Brought to you by SA Legal Academy: The Department of Electricity & Energy has issued a notice calling for public comment on the draft Nuclear Energy Amendment Bill. Stakeholders have until 21 June 2026 to submit their written representations.

In terms of the gazetted notice, the draft Nuclear Energy Amendment Bill seeks to amend the Nuclear Energy Act, No. 46 of 1999. No explanatory notes or formal media statements have been released by the department to clarify the specific policy shifts or clauses within the draft legislation at this stage.

The principal statute, the Nuclear Energy Act, No. 46 of 1999, has previously been amended by the following legislation:

  • The National Nuclear Energy Regulator Amendment Act of 2024, which has been in force since December 2025; and
  • The Protection of Constitutional Democracy Against Terrorist & Related Activities Act of 2004, along with its subsequent amendments in 2022.

Because an updated, consolidated version of the principal Act reflecting these cumulative changes is not currently available from official government sources, practitioners must carefully cross-reference the new draft provisions against the historical amending statutes.

What this means for you, your business, or your clients

  • For yourself: No direct individual compliance obligations; however, legal practitioners and compliance officers must monitor the progress of the Bill to maintain up-to-date advisory capabilities in energy law.
  • For your business: Firms operating in the regulatory, environmental, or energy advisory space must update their legislative tracking systems to account for the proposed changes to the nuclear regulatory framework.
  • For your clients: Clients in the nuclear energy, medical technology, or specialized engineering sectors should review the draft Bill to assess potential impacts on their licensing requirements and security compliance before the 21 June 2026 deadline.

Originally published at https://legalacademy.co.za/news/read/nuclear-energy-draft-amendment-bill-out-for-comment

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