STATEMENT BY CAPE TOWN MAYOR, GEORDIN HILL-LEWIS
On Friday, 18 February 2022, I visited Koeberg Nuclear Power Station to receive an update from Eskom on largescale maintenance projects taking place at the plant and a briefing about the site’s safety.
Unit 2 at Koeberg is currently shut down for the replacement of its steam generator. The unit is also being refuelled and routine maintenance being carried out. The unit outage is expected to be concluded in July 2022. A similar process in respect of unit 1 will be carried out at a later date.
The replacement of the steam generators is an essential component of Eskom’s project to extend the life of both Koeberg units, which will allow the plant to operate safely for an additional 20 years.
This work is being carried out under the supervision of both local and international nuclear regulators, including the International Atomic Energy Agency and the World Association for Nuclear Operators. Engineers from France, the United States and other nuclear-reliant nations are providing assistance, and conducting oversight and safety monitoring.
While touring the plant, I asked Eskom’s Group Chief Operations Officer, Mr Jan Oberholzer, and Chief Nuclear Officer, Mr Riedewaan Bakardien, about two issues often cited as safety concerns by some residents and environmental activists.
On the issue of cracks in the concrete containment structures that house the reactor units, I saw for myself how these minor cracks are merely superficial and do not threaten the integrity of the thick concrete walls. Eskom has assured me the minor cracks are being attended to in the normal course of its maintenance regime, and that the cracks do not threaten the crucial inner layer of the structure, which does most of the work of containment. This layer remains perfectly intact. This has been confirmed by international experts who regularly monitor the plant for radiation leakage.
On the issue of the storage of high-level waste at the Koeberg site, I was taken through the process involved in moving spent rods from fuel pools into thick-walled casks at the site. These casks have been designed according to international best practice and, like the reactors, are constantly monitored for safety and structural integrity according to the strictest standards.
Koeberg’s high-level waste storage facilities are nearing full capacity. I have been reassured by Mr Oberholzer and Mr Bakardien that Eskom has a plan to both expand this capacity and find a more sustainable solution to storage, through safe transport of the high-level waste to the remote Vaalputs site in the Northern Cape. Eskom has committed to keeping me and the public regularly updated in this regard.
Koeberg Nuclear Power Station is a crucial component of South Africa’s energy mix and a foundation stone of our economy. In stark contrast to coal-fired stations, it operates reliably, cheaply, and does not contribute to climate change and air pollution.
Most importantly, I remain confident that the safety and operational protocols at Koeberg are consistent with international best practice. Koeberg is well-managed and plant safety remains a strict non-negotiable. I was reassured by the quality of skills on site, and believe the teams at Koeberg remain complete and of a world-class standard.
I will continue to pay visits to Koeberg and meet with Eskom regularly to ensure the plant continues to operate as safely as possible, to the benefit of Capetonians and the country at large.
Source: City Of Cape Town