An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Safety Aspects of Long Term Operation (SALTO) team of experts has completed a review of long term operational safety of the Koeberg NPP in South Africa. The follow-up review mission was requested by plant operator Eskom. Koeberg 1&2 started commercial operation in 1984 and 1985. Koeberg 1 received a licence to continue operating until 2044 in July this year, and Eskom is planning to extend operation of unit 2 until 2045.
Koeberg NPP is located approximately 30 kilometres north of Cape Town, and provides around 5% per cent of South Africa’s electricity, playing a vital role in reducing reliance on coal. It is the only commercially operating nuclear power station on the African continent. Koeberg is equipped with two pressurised water reactors with a combined capacity of 1934 MWe.
The SALTO team’s review focused on aspects essential to the safe Long Term Operation (LTO) of both units. The mission reviewed Koeberg NPP’s response to recommendations and suggestions made during an IAEA SALTO mission in 2022, which built upon an initial IAEA pre-SALTO mission held at the plant in 2019. The review team comprised two experts from the Czech Republic and Slovenia, and two IAEA staff members.
“The team observed that the plant is addressing the SALTO team’s suggestions and recommendations from the 2022 review,” said team leader and IAEA Nuclear Safety Officer Bryce Lehman. “Based on its efforts, the plant has made significant improvements in ageing management and resolved most of the issues identified in 2022. The plant is on track to complete the remaining items in a reasonable timeframe.”
The team concluded that the plant had:
- Updated the LTO programme ensuring that all long-term operation activities are systematically planned, executed on schedule, and aligned with safety and operational standards.
- Completed the revalidation of environmental qualification for qualified cables ensuring that nuclear facility cables remain capable of safely performing under specific environmental conditions over time, despite aging or wear.
- Completed the revalidation of the Time Limited Ageing Analysis (TLAAs) for concrete structures, including the containment TLAA.
The plant needs to continue its work to ensure that:
- The plant programmes supporting LTO are fully implemented for the LTO period.
- The containment monitoring system is fully refurbished and remains fully functional during the LTO period.
Plant management expressed a determination to maintain the level of preparedness for safe LTO and to further cooperate with the IAEA in this area. “For us, this is an integral part of the IAEA’s supporting service to ensure safe operation of the Koeberg reactors during the LTO period for the next 20 years. The IAEA SALTO missions, and technical cooperation, helped to improve our continued focus on safe operation,” said Keith Featherstone, Chief Nuclear Officer, Nuclear Operating Unit, Eskom.
“Eskom has worked diligently to demonstrate and ensure the safe operation of the Koeberg plant today and into the future and together with the IAEA carried out four review missions and several technical support discussions,” he added. “We appreciate the IAEA’s support and the independent review against international safety standards. We will continue to collaborate in the future as part of our drive to continuously improve.”
The team provided a draft report to the plant management and to the South African National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) at the end of the mission. They will have an opportunity to make factual comments on the draft. A final report will be submitted to the plant management, the NNR and the South African Government within three months.
