South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator says it has received the safety case from Eskom in support of its application to extend the operational life of the Koeberg nuclear power plant beyond its current licence term of 40 years.

The return to service next month of unit 2 at the Koeberg nuclear power plant will help to reduce pressure on South Africa's constrained power system, state-owned utility Eskom says. The return to service of the unit, which has been offline for refuelling and maintenance, will support utility efforts to reduce loadshedding and meet high demand as the country moves into winter.

The ten experts focused on aspects essential to safe Long Term Operation of the two units at South Africa's nuclear power plant - operator Eskom wants to extend their lives by 20 years to 2045, which will give a total operational lifetime of 60 years.

The South African government has published the first phase of its National Infrastructure Plan 2050. The plan aims to create a foundation for achieving the vision of inclusive growth under the National Development Plan, with energy one of four critical network sectors addressed in this phase.
 

South African utility Eskom has deferred the replacement of three steam generators at unit 2 of its Koeberg nuclear power plant until its next planned outage in August 2023. The move was made due to concerns the reactor would not be returned to service after the current outage in time for the high-demand winter period.

Necsa - the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation - has released a Request for Information for the Multipurpose Reactor to replace the 56-year-old Safari-1 research reactor located at Pelindaba.

Unit 2 of South Africa’s Koeberg nuclear power plant has been taken offline for refuelling and the replacement of its three steam generators and reactor pressure vessel head. The work is part of plans to extend its operation for 20 years, and scheduled to take five months.

The South African cabinet has approved the construction of the Multipurpose Reactor to succeed the Safari-1 research reactor which is located at Pelindaba. Safari-1's operator, Necsa, said the cabinet approval allows the lead-time needed to ensure radioisotope production is not interrupted. The company has also expressed its support for the recent approval by the country's energy regulator of a ministerial determination to procure new nuclear generation capacity.

South Africa plans to issue a Request for Proposal for 2500 MWe of new nuclear capacity at the end of March 2022 and complete the procurement process in 2024, Deputy Minister of Mineral Resources and Energy Nobuhle Pamela Nkabane told the International Atomic Energy Agency 65th General Conference. The country is also finalising its ratification of the amended Convention on Physical Protection of Nuclear Material.

"There is an old phrase, 'No buying; no dying", Professor James Larkin of the University of Witwatersrand told the World Nuclear Association Annual Symposium in a presentation today. "We are aiming to use nuclear science techniques to devalue rhino horn and bring an end to poaching," he said, explaining the conservation goals of the Rhisotope Project.

A new international project to use nuclear science-based techniques to drastically reduce rhinoceros poaching has been launched in South Africa. The Rhisotope Project was initiated by the University of Witwatersrand in collaboration with the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation, Colorado State University, Russian nuclear company Rosatom and the Nuclear Energy Corporation of South Africa as well as global scientists, researchers, rhino owners and veterinary surgeon and rhino expert William Fowlds.

South African utility Eskom and the National Nuclear Regulator have refuted media reports that the reinforced concrete containment buildings at the Koeberg nuclear power plant have suffered extensive corrosion and would not be able to prevent the release of radiation in the event of a severe accident. They say tests have confirmed the performance of the structures, to which repairs have already been made.