- South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator invites public comment on health, safety and environmental issues connected with Eskom’s licence change request application for the construction of a spent fuel cask storage area on the Koeberg nuclear power plant site.
Koeberg Unit 1 was shutdown in September after one of the isolation/block valves failed its three-monthly routine test. The failure happened in the same month the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) completed a review of long-term operational safety of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in South Africa. Concerns were raised over the ageing containment buildings which have degraded over the last 40 years. Read more
Koeberg’s Unit 1 life extension programme was approved by the NNR allowing a further 20 years of operation. Civil rights groups like the Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) contends that that the life extension of the Koeberg plant is fatally flawed, citing the NNR’s failure to perform its oversight role properly regarding significant safety risks, and Eskom’s egregious delays in performing maintenance that is critical to safety. Read more
The Transient Interim Storage Facility (TISF) was established under the Nuclear Installation Licence, NIL-44 and associated 29 conditions granted by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR). On 26 August 2024, the NNR received an application from Eskom for a Licence Change Request for the construction of the Spent Fuel Cask Storage Area to temporarily store used nuclear fuel within the boundaries of the Koeberg site.
The real gnarly radioactive waste is currently in the spent fuel pool located underneath the Koeberg Power Station. Image credit: NNR
The NNR directed Eskom to publish a notice of the application and supporting documents submitted to the NNR in the Government Gazette and a minimum of two newspapers circulating in every municipality affected by the application. The supporting documents submitted to the NNR comprised of a Public Information Document, a detailed Design Report and the Construction Safety Case. On 6 December 2024, Eskom confirmed the publication of the notice and supporting documents as per the NNR directive.
Members of the public and interested stakeholders are invited to submit to the NNR written comments relating to health, safety and environmental issues connected with the TISF application. All comments must reach the NNR within 60 days from the date of publication of the first notice by Eskom.
Relevant information for making public comments can found on the following websites:
- NNR website: https://nnr.co.za/applications-in-progress/
- Eskom website: https://www.eskom.co.za/eskom-divisions/gx/koeberg-long-term-outage/PAIA/
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
