By Grace Ademulegun
After years of power outages, South African power firm, Eskom, announced on Tuesday, December 31, 2024, that it had successfully connected the second unit of its Koeberg nuclear power plant to the national grid following a significant renovation.
This is expected to considerably increase the amount of electricity available.Eskom’s unbroken electricity supply for the last nine months, following a depressing ten years of controlled power outages, has boosted corporate confidence in Africa’s most industrialised economy.
Currently Africa’s only commercial nuclear power plant, Koeberg Power Station, is located north of Cape Town. Its two units provide about 1,860 megawatts of electricity, or 5% of the country’s total power supply.
In a statement, Eskom CEO, Dan Marokane said, “Koeberg is a prime example of how nuclear power can bring economic and environmental priorities into harmony to create a sustainable energy future.
“The nuclear authority renewed Unit 1’s 40-year operating licence by an additional 20 years in July. Before the end of 2025, the regulator is anticipated to decide whether to extend Unit 2’s licensing for a comparable duration.”
Future nuclear power plants in South Africa are for an extra 2,500 MW. Additionally, it is thinking about reviving the development of its small Pebble Bed Modular Reactor concept, which was put on hold over ten years ago because of a lack of collaborators and financing.
Related Posts
In 2025, the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) is expected to make a decision about Unit 2’s operational licence extension. This follows Unit 1’s licence being successfully renewed, extending its operation through 2044.
Since going back into service, Unit 1, which contributes 930MW to the grid, has demonstrated remarkable dependability. Units 1 and 2 will provide 1860MW, or roughly 5% of South Africa’s total power supply, when combined. This will be crucial in balancing the grid and minimising load shedding.
High performance levels have been continuously delivered by Unit 1, and Unit 2 is anticipated to equal or surpass these accomplishments. Koeberg’s sustained performance highlights how important it is to supply South Africa’s energy demands and assist in its shift to a low-carbon economy.
Koeberg has made a name for itself as a centre for nuclear innovation by establishing strategic partnerships with global suppliers, designers, and business executives. As South Africa investigates cutting-edge nuclear technologies like Small Modular Reactors (SMRs), these collaborations are expected to be essential.
In addition to continuing to develop and retain a qualified nuclear workforce, this might establish the nation as a pioneer in innovative nuclear solutions, according to Bheki Nxumalo, Group Executive for Generation.
Nuclear energy is well-positioned to offer a dependable and steady base load supply when South Africa phases out some of its outdated coal-fired power units by 2030.
Nuclear power guarantees constant electricity generation, satisfying the demands of both industrial and residential consumers, in contrast to intermittent renewable sources.
By lowering greenhouse gas emissions, its capacity to generate carbon-free electricity also helps South Africa achieve its climate goals, Nxumalo said.
