- During recent routine testing, Eskom detected an airborne contamination in the ventilation system of the Koeberg Security Central Alarm Station.
- Eskom and the National Nuclear Regulator has stressed that the fault lies with the Security Alarm Station and there are currently no health and safety concerns at the station.
According to a statement issued by the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) yesterday, the airborne contamination was not from a nuclear power plant or the result of a nuclear accident. It was part of a testing process at the Koeberg Security Central Alarm Station, whereby a radioactive isotope – I-131 – was used as a tracer.
“The NNR conducted its initial inspection of the occurrence and can confirm that the airborne contamination in the Koeberg Security Central Alarm Station did not come from the nuclear power plant. The NNR inspection data indicated that there are currently no health and safety concerns to public or workers as a result of this occurrence,” said Peter Bester, NNR Regulatory Programme Manager Nuclear Power Plant.
The NNR will continue its oversight and to ensure Eskom corrects the weakness, to prevent such “occurrences” in future.
The Koeberg nuclear plant is currently undergoing a R20 billion life extension programme. Read more
Author: Bryan Groenendaal
