By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
State owned power utility Eskom has reconnected Unit 1 at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station to the national grid, returning 930MW capacity to the service.
For the first time since 2024, the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant is operating at full power with both generating units online and supplying to the national grid.
Eskom says both Koeberg Unit 1 and Unit 2 are currently online, with Unit 1 in the process of ramping up and Unit 2 generating 941 MW.
Once Unit 1 reaches full output, the two units will jointly provide over 1 860 MW of capacity to the national grid.
This is about 5% of Eskom’s total electricity output.
To maintain grid stability, Eskom notes that Koeberg’s maintenance outages are strategically staggered every 16 to 18 months, ensuring the two units are never offline at the same time.
Unit 2 has been running at full capacity for 234 days at a 99.88% year-to-date energy availability factor and is awaiting the Nationalm Nuclear Regulator’s (NNR’s) decision on its 20-year long-term operation licence on November 9.
The utility says this achievement reflects Eskom’s commitment to the safe, reliable and efficient operation of South Africa’s only nuclear power plant, which provides clean, cost-effective baseload electricity to the national grid.
The maintenance, which included comprehensive inspections, safety checks and the statutory ten-year integrated leak rate test (ILRT), has ensured the unit is ready to operate safely and efficiently until its next major maintenance cycle.
Eskom says the ILRT confirmed the containment building’s structural integrity and leak-tightness in line with international nuclear safety standards.
“Our teams have demonstrated exceptional technical expertise and commitment. Koeberg remains a cornerstone of South Africa’s energy mix and this achievement underscores Eskom’s continued focus on nuclear safety and operational excellence, “says Eskom group executive for generation Bheki Nxumalo.
In July 2024, following the successful completion of the Steam Generator Replacement Programme in November 2023, the NNR extended Eskom’s licence to operate Unit 1 until July 2044.
The additional capacity will go towards keeping loadshedding at bay, a feat Eskom expects will continue beyond the end of 2025 in South Africa.