Koeberg's Unit 1 Secures 20-Year Lifeline as South Africa Pivots from Coal Energy

In a pivotal move for South Africa's energy landscape, the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has given the green light for a 20-year extension to the operating life of Koeberg nuclear power station’s unit 1. Eskom's request, aimed at bolstering the nation's power grid amidst a shift away from a coal-dominated energy mix, was granted under the proviso that the unit remains compliant with regulatory standards.

Koeberg, which is South Africa's only nuclear power plant, hosts two 900MW generation units. The life extension guarantees that unit 1 will continue contributing to the national power supply until 2044. This secures a significant portion of the power needed as South Africa looks to diversify its energy portfolio.

As of July 24, when unit 1's operating licence was due to run out, citizens can now rest assured that their energy security is on firmer footing for the foreseeable future. However, the destiny of unit 2 remains undecided, with the NNR deferring its verdict until November 2025, allowing for a more detailed analysis and ensuring operational safety and efficiency standards are upheld.

According to NNR CEO Ditebogo Kgomo, unit 1's extension application met all the regulator's compliance criteria. This step forward reflects Eskom's proactive stance in separating the operational timelines of the two units—a measure granted by the NNR earlier in 2024. While unit 1 commenced operations in July 1984, unit 2 followed about 15 months later, explaining the staggered approach to their respective licence extensions.

The backdrop to these developments has been a challenging energy landscape aggravated by prolonged load-shedding periods in recent years. Notably, there were months during the past two years when South Africa didn't receive power from either of the Koeberg units. Anticipating the need for the 20-year life extension, Eskom conducted an extended maintenance outage on unit 1 throughout most of 2023. Since its return to operational status in December, unit 2 has been offline undergoing a similar maintenance routine. Eskom has projected September as the month when unit 2 should be back in service.

This milestone decision by the NNR is instrumental for South Africa's national power grid's resilience and is set to play a crucial role in the country's transition to a more sustainable and diversified energy mix.