Cape town: Eskom has announced a delay in the return to service of Koeberg Unit 1, now expected by the end of August, due to additional steam generator maintenance. Initially, the unit was set to return by the end of July.
According to South African Government News Agency, during scheduled inspections, defects were discovered in four tubes across two newly installed generators. Eskom, along with both international and local experts, swiftly addressed these defects using an advanced automated process. This effort ensures the unit maintains the highest safety and quality standards.
Eskom also confirmed that major maintenance activities, including the legally mandated 10-year Integrated Leak Rate Test, have been completed successfully. The test verified the robustness and leak-tightness of Unit 1's containment structure, aligning with international safety standards.
Eskom's Group Executive for Generation, Bheki Nxumalo, highlighted the importance of safety for employees, the public, and the environment. He stated that the maintenance serves as an investment in the long-term reliability of Koeberg and South Africa's energy future. The maintenance is expected to provide decades of affordable, low-carbon baseload power, supporting both economic growth and environmental sustainability.
The power utility reassured that the delay will not lead to an increased risk of load shedding. Since mid-May, load shedding has not been implemented, with only 26 hours of planned outages occurring between April and July 2025. Eskom's winter outlook, valid until the end of August, indicates that load shedding will not be necessary if unplanned outages remain below 13,000MW. Even if they rise to 15,000MW, load shedding would be capped at Stage 2 for a maximum of 21 days over the winter period.
Upon completion of the work on Unit 1, the reactor core will be refueled, tested, and brought back to the national grid, enhancing the power system. Eskom ensures that planned outages at Koeberg are staggered to avoid both units being offline simultaneously. Koeberg Units 1 and 2 provide approximately 1,860MW, meeting around 5% of South Africa's electricity needs. Unit 2 remains operational, generating up to 946MW, with an Energy Availability Factor of 99.38% as of June 2025.