The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has granted Eskom a licence to operate Unit 1 of the Koeberg nuclear power station for an additional 20 years, extending its operation until July 21, 2044.
Koeberg Unit 1 contributes 930 MW of power to the national grid. This extension means Koeberg will join 120 nuclear reactors worldwide that have safely continued operations beyond their initial 40-year lifespans.
Keith Featherstone, Eskom’s Chief Nuclear Officer, said the licence approval reflects the dedication and efforts of Eskom’s teams in upholding nuclear safety and supporting the power utility’s generation recovery plan. “Over the years, Koeberg has adopted safety improvements based on experiences from French and US nuclear operations, reducing risk levels typically seen only in modern nuclear power plants.”
Hardware modifications and upgrades
Lesedi Nuclear Services has played a crucial role in supporting Eskom in securing the licence extension. The company has been integrally involved in significant hardware modifications and upgrades at Koeberg Unit 1 and Unit 2, including replacing the refuelling water storage tanks and steam generators.
Derik Wolvaardt, Senior Executive: Nuclear at Lesedi, emphasised the importance of the refuelling water storage tanks, describing them as vital safety components that supply water for safety injection in the unlikely event of an accident.
The steam generator installation at Koeberg Unit 2 is expected to be completed by October 2024 when it will return to service.
Koeberg Unit 1 will continue to operate until January 2025 when it will undergo its next scheduled refuelling and maintenance.
Lesedi also conducted the safety assessments necessary for the licence application, implementing the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safety Aspects of Long-Term Operation methodology. Beginning in 2018, a team of 20 engineers analysed more than 80 000 pieces of equipment to evaluate their condition and viability for another 20 years of operation.
Wolvaardt noted that Koeberg Unit 2 has undergone the same modifications and processes as Unit 1. “The only difference is that Koeberg Unit 2 started up one year later than Unit 1 so it has another year before its 40-year life expectancy ends on November 9, 2025. The safety analysis has already been completed on Unit 2 so, once the steam generator installation is completed by October 2024, the NNR can make its life extension determinations.”
While the NNR’s decision on a 20-year life extension for Unit 2 is pending and expected before November 9, 2025, Wolvaardt expressed confidence that the licence for Unit 2 would be granted. “Eskom has followed a rigorous process aligned with international standards guided by the IAEA and the original equipment manufacturer Framatome, meeting all NNR deadlines,” he said. Once the hardware modifications at Unit 2 are complete, Eskom can potentially increase each unit’s capacity by 10%, enhancing the total 1 860 MW output.
Wolvaardt added that the life extension of Koeberg is good news for South Africa, especially for the Western Cape. “Koeberg generates a substantial portion of the Western Cape’s power so its shutdown would be disastrous. The Western Cape grid will become unstable due to the absence of generating capacity equivalent to Koeberg’s output. With most generation capacity in Gauteng, grid stability would be a major issue with 1 500 km-long powerlines.”
