Delays at Koeberg maintenance project as Eskom averts load shedding
Eskom says the replacement of three steam generators at unit 2 of the Koeberg nuclear power station has been pushed back by a few months.
Unit 2 was shut down mid-January this year for a regular re-fuelling and maintenance outage.
The planned maintenance work included the replacement of the steam generators.
But a review of the work by the power utility found that there is a high likelihood of the unit being returned to the grid later than planned.
Eskom officials held a media briefing on Friday where COO Jan Oberholzer revealed the decision was taken with hopes to reduce the risk of load shedding.
"Due to the potential severe impact of returning this unit later than June 2022 as initially planned, the decision has been made to defer the SGR [Steam Generator Replacement ] to the next outage on this unit, planned for August 2023.
"This is to avoid the risk of impacting electricity supply during the high demand winter period as the earlier return of Koeberg Unit 2 to service will assist in mitigating the risk of load shedding," said Oberholzer.
Oberholzer assured the setback would not impact the safe operation of the nuclear power plant.
"Based on the condition of the original steam generators on Unit 2, the deferral of the SGR modification does not impact the safe operation of Koeberg Unit 2, as the original steam generators undergo a full series of routine inspections and tests to ensure that their integrity is maintained for the next operating cycle. The safe and reliable operation of the two nuclear units consistently plays a significant part in adding stability to the grid.
"To date the fuel has been successfully unloaded, and the majority of work planned in the early part of the outage has progressed as per the outage programme.
"Having undergone the regular maintenance re-fuelling outage, which is under way, Unit 2 of the Koeberg power station will therefore be returned to service during June 2022. This is planned to help reduce the pressure on the rest of the generation capacity and to limit the impact of load shedding during the winter period. The SGR project on Unit 1 will proceed as planned, starting in September 2022."
Oberholzer added Eskom is looking into why facilities that will house the old steam generators are not yet ready.
"We are currently looking at the reasons why. We have been put at ease as leadership that everything was in hand but unfortunately it turned out to be more challenging than what the team had foreseen at the time.
"If consequence management is required that will be implemented."
Listen to Oberholzer below:
ALSO READ: