Japan's Fukushima No.1 nuclear power plant was crippled by the devastating 11 March earthquake and ensuing tsunami that struck the Pacific coastal areas of north-eastern and eastern Japan. The country raised the severity level of the accident at the facility to seven, the worst on an international scale.

Following the incident, the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) instructed both Eskom and the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation (Necsa) to conduct safety reassessment reports of their nuclear plants namely Koeberg and the Necsa-owned Safari 1 tank-in-pool type materials testing reactor in Pelindaba.

The reports were aimed at identifying vulnerabilities in the design of facilities as well as identify necessary modifications to be implemented where needed.

The NNR received the reports from both entities in December last year and released its assessment of the reports at a press briefing yesterday.

Chief Executive Officer of NNR Advocate Boyce Mkhize said valuable lessons were to be learnt from the March 2011 incident.

According to the NNR, the country's nuclear installations can withstand natural events.

On Friday, Chabane said the report was very critical for taking decisions forward.