Koeberg Unit 2 trips during the execution of work on Unit 1

• Koeberg Unit 2 tripped at South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear power station at around 9:30am on Sunday morning.
• Unit 1 has been down since September last year after one of the isolation/block valves failed its three-monthly routine test.
• Eskom recently submitted a license change request application to the national nuclear regulator for the construction of a spent fuel cask storage area on the Koeberg nuclear power plant site.
• Concerns have been raised over the ageing containment buildings which have degraded over the last 40 years. Read more

“Unit 2 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station experienced an unplanned, non-technical trip while operating at full capacity. Koeberg Unit 2 inadvertently tripped during the execution of work on Unit 1, which is currently offline for work to be conducted as part of its Long-Term Operation (LTO) program. Unit 2 was safely shut down in accordance with its protection protocols, ensuring continued stability and security,” said Eskom in a statement.

Eskom has since established it is safe to initiate the start-up process for Koeberg Unit 2, in line with standard operating procedures, and Unit 2 is expected to be reconnected to the national grid within 48 hours.

While the trip did not necessitate the implementation of loadshedding which remains suspended, Eskom acknowledges that overall, generation capacity remains constrained. The company continues to maintain high levels of maintenance, averaging 7 032MW in February. These efforts are key to enhancing fleet reliability ahead of increased winter demand while also meeting environmental licence conditions and regulatory requirements.

Eskom assures the public that Koeberg Nuclear Power Station maintains the highest safety standards as evidenced by the management of today’s event. Further updates will be provided as needed.

Koeberg’s 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 

Author: Bryan Groenendaal