The Power utility, Eskom confirmed that Unit 2 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station will be taken offline on Monday,17 January.
According to a statement by Eskom, regular refuelling and maintenance outage is scheduled for five months., as this will be the 25th refuelling outage on Unit 2 since commissioning and it will also see the replacement of the unit’s three steam generators.
“During this outage, the reactor pressure vessel head, which houses the nuclear fuel while the station is in operation, will also be replaced.
“The Koeberg Unit 1 outage, of a similar duration, will follow later in the year during which the Unit 1 steam generators will also be replaced; its reactor pressure vessel head was replaced several years ago,” Eskom said.
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Eskom’s Chief Nuclear Officer Riedewaan Bakardien, further mentioned that this is going to be a long, but needed outage.
“Our staff are prepared and committed to making history by ensuring the success of this project We will progress the outage work diligently, making sure nuclear safety and safety of the plant, personnel and public is top of mind,” Bakardien said.
Meanwhile, when the Koeberg Unit 2 shuts down on Monday, it will have been online, safely generating electricity, for 452 days without any interruption since its last refuelling outage, which was completed in October 2020.
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