## 7 Results and Discussion
### Quantitative Analysis  
After the identification of the various factors under each quadrant, as presented supra, the experts were asked to assign weights to each criterion using the AHP approach, as presented above. The assigning of weights is key to enable policy and decision makers to know the most critical issues that require urgent attention during decision making relative to the development of a nuclear power plant. The experts provided vital perspectives to the successful completion of this research. In all, a total of 19 input criteria were assessed (pair comparison). The quantitative results for each section of the SWOT analysis are presented as follows. **Enabling laws and regulatory framework (S1). ** This factor is ranked highest by the experts; it recorded a weight of 39.2%. This is, according to them, the safety of people and the environment in countries where NPP depends on the availability of a strong regulatory regime that oversees the safety of the facilities. In that regard, the IAEA promotes the formation of a comprehensive regulatory framework to safeguard the safety of such installations throughout its lifetime. These regulatory frameworks are made up of relevant regulations, legislation, and guidance as well as a robust management and leadership program for safe operations of the installation [66]. Additionally, in the view of the experts, South Africa already has these legislations and regulatory frameworks in place since it has an already operational nuclear facility. In that regard, the country already has experienced people in place to manage any further expansion that would take place, hence, the reason for the high score for this factor. **Uranium mining (S2)**. The availability of uranium placed second in the rankings; it recorded a weight of 21.9%. Research has shown that the gold tailings at the Witwatersrand basin alone have an estimated uranium concentration of about 100 mg/kg U\({}_{3}\)O\({}_{8}\) averagely, which ranges from approximately 10 mg/kg to hundreds of mg/kg. As a result, these gold tailings are estimated to have more uranium or more uranium tailings from some mines in the country than those from Namibia or Germany [67]. South Africa has considerable uranium reserves with an extensive uranium mining industry. This makes the country one of the important world producers of uranium. The availability of this resource in the country is an important element of the security of energy supply in a country's energy sector [68]. **Experience with the operations of an NPP and management of radioactive waste (S3)**. There has always been a strong awareness about the possible hazard of nuclear criticality as well as the release of radioactive materials from nuclear power plants. Due to this, there is always the need to get highly qualified personnel to manage and operate such facilities. South Africa has a running NPP and has some of the best personnel in the industry responsible for the operation and management of nuclear waste. This comes as an advantage relative to the country's intended vision of adding more NPPs to its energy generation mix. As a result, the experts assigned a weight of 13.7% to this factor. **Reduction in GHGs' emissions (S4)**. Experts assigned a weight of 10.8% to this factor. Obviously, nuclear power comes with advantages, one of which is the fact that nuclear energy has proven to deliver safe and considerable base-load power without generating large quantities of GHG. Therefore, increasing its use in the country's energy generation mix has the potential to cut down the level of emissions that are associated with the generation of power. **Strong partnerships' integration (S5)**. As discussed above, the South African government already has strong collaborations with several countries relative to its nuclear power development.