The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (SAFCEI) has expressed concerns over Eskom’s plans to extend the operating life of Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant’s Unit 2 by 20 years. The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) is considering the extension despite incomplete and outdated safety data. Experts argue that this move violates South Africa’s nuclear safety regulations.
At the center of the controversy is Eskom’s Time-Limited Ageing Analysis (TLAA) report, which predicts the condition of Unit 2 using data from Unit 1. However, Unit 2 has not undergone an Integrated Leak Rate Test (ILRT) since 2015, a requirement for informed decision-making on license extension. The ILRT is essential for assessing the containment building’s structural integrity, a critical safety barrier.
The TLAA report makes assumptions about the post-tensioning tendons inside the containment building, including that they will not corrode over the next 20 years. However, the Impressed Current Cathodic Protection (ICCP) system, designed to prevent corrosion, has been delayed and is not yet installed. A 2015 expert panel warned that corrosion of the tendons could lead to exponential deterioration and potentially mark the end of the containment building’s service life.
SAFCEI’s Executive Director, Francesca de Gasparis, emphasized that the TLAA’s assumptions are not supported by evidence. “Eskom is asking South Africans to trust safety data that doesn’t exist,” she said. The organization is calling for the NNR to postpone the license decision until Eskom completes the ICCP installation and a new ILRT, ensuring that the containment’s actual condition is verified through direct testing and monitoring data.
The International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) 2024 Safety Aspects of Long-Term Operation (SALTO) mission to South Africa also highlighted the importance of a fully functional containment monitoring system for long-term operation. The NNR’s decision is expected to have significant implications for nuclear safety in South Africa, and SAFCEI is urging the regulator to prioritize caution and evidence-based decision-making.
The controversy surrounding Koeberg Unit 2’s license extension has raised concerns about the potential risks and consequences of extending the operating life of a nuclear power plant without adequate safety data. As the NNR considers the extension, it is essential to prioritize nuclear safety and ensure that decisions are based on thorough testing and monitoring.