Eskom’s Nuclear Power Station located in Cape Town is celebrating 40 years of being in operation. Picture: Henk Kruger/Independent Newspapers
Koeberg Nuclear Power, which is owned and operated by Eskom has marked 40 years of safe nuclear operation of its Unit 1 reactor.
The power station is located in Cape Town, Western Cape.
“Throughout this period, it has reliably generated clean and affordable electricity, playing a crucial role in the economic development of the country,” Eskom said.
On July 1, 1976, construction began at Koeberg and the Unit 1 reactor was taken critical for the first time on April 4, 1984.
On July 21, 1984, Unit 1 completed the commissioning tests at 100% power and entered into commercial operation this was followed by Unit 2 which entered commercial operation on November 9, 1985.
Eskom said that as most of SA’s power stations are situated on the Highveld coal fields in the Mpumalanga, Koeberg which is located in Cape Town is a critical anchor to the electricity transmission network in the Western Cape.
The location of the Koeberg power station significantly reduces the transmission losses associated with supplying the requirements of the Cape Town as well as surrounding areas.
Dan Marokane, Group Chief Executive, Eskom said: “This 40-year milestone is testament that South Africa has the people with the right knowledge, skills, experience, and capabilities to run a nuclear power station safely.”
According to Eskom, the design, operation, maintenance, and improvement of Koeberg including the completion of the Long-Term Operation (LTO) project on Unit 1 in December 2023, led to the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) granting Eskom a licence on July 15.
This licence permits the continued operation of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 until July 21, 2044.
As a result, Koeberg Unit 1 is expected to contribute over 930MW to the grid for another 20 years.
“Having successfully obtained the licence to operate for an additional 20 years, Koeberg will play a critical role in reducing carbon emissions and continuing to maintain and build a skilled nuclear workforce.”
Bheki Nxumalo, Group Executive for Generation, Eskom called Koeberg power station a key contributor of Eskom’s energy generation mix, stabilising electricity supply in SA by providing reliable baseload power.
“It helps increase the energy security of the country and provide critical megawatts to close our national energy supply gap, and it will continue to play a key role as Eskom moves aggressively into delivering a cleaner energy portfolio,” Nxumalo said.
Given that Unit 2 is in a similar condition as Unit 1, a request to extend its operations for another 20 years was made to NNR. Eskom awaits the decision before its current licence expires on November 9, 2025.
Eskom said that Koeberg boasts the largest turbine generators in the Southern Hemisphere.
Koeberg is also surrounded by a 3000-hectare private nature reserve that is owned by Eskom, that has more than 150 different species of birds and half a dozen small mammal species.
The National Occupational Safety Association (NOSA) has recognised Koeberg’s commitment to safety by awarding it with NOSCAR status on over 14 occasions.
“As we celebrate and honour this special anniversary, I want to express my heartfelt appreciation for the remarkable contribution by all the present and past Koeberg staff and contractors in maintaining excellence in nuclear safety, operational performance and environmental stewardship for four decades,” Keith Featherstone, Chief Nuclear Officer, Eskom said.
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