Eskom has confirmed that it is on track to bring Koeberg Unit 1 back online on 3 November this year, while Koeberg Unit 2 will be taken offline for refurbishment work on 7 November.

This all in an attempt to extend the lifespan of the plant by 20 years

The power utility says Unit 1 reached a significant milestone at the end of July, when the mechanical work of the replacement of the steam generators was completed.

This is the most significant part of the project,  which means that Eskom is now proceeding with the normal maintenance activities that could not be performed in parallel with the replacement of the steam generators.

Once completed, the reactor will be reloaded with fuel, enabling the return to service of the unit. The commissioning, including the necessary tests of the new steam generators, will take place while the unit is synchronised to the grid.

Once Unit 1 is fully back in operation, Unit 2 will be switched off, also for the replacement of steam generators and maintenance.

The replacement of the steam generators was a first of its kind complex nuclear project to be performed at Koeberg and is the last major plant component out of the three to be replaced on the unit as part of the Long-Term Operation (LTO) project.

The other two components, namely the replacement of the Refuelling Water Storage Tanks and the Reactor Vessel Closure Heads, have been replaced in previous years on both Units 1 and 2.

The replacement of the steam generators is the last of the large components that Eskom deemed necessary to be replaced in support of its application to operate the Koeberg units for another 20 years.

Eskom says the new steam generators are more efficient and will produce an additional 27MW while enabling Koeberg to continue generating electricity for years.

The power utility says this will play an essential role of stabilising supply in the Western Cape.

Eskom has denied that the delay in getting Unit 1 back on line does not negatively impact the licence application with the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) to amend the Koeberg operating licence.

Eskom says it is also analysing the causes of the delays on Unit 1 to ensure that they are not repeated during the upcoming steam generator replacement on Koeberg Unit 2.

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