Melikhaya Zagagana21 July 2024 | 10:43

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station marks 40 years of existence

Eskom said Koeberg has been generating clean and affordable electricity and playing a crucial role in the country's economic development since 1984.

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station marks 40 years of existence

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station. Picture: @Eskom_SA/X.

CAPE TOWN - South Africa's only nuclear power station celebrates a 40-year-old milestone on Sunday.

Eskom said Koeberg has been generating clean and affordable electricity and playing a crucial role in the country's economic development since 1984.

Unit 1 of two nuclear reactions at the Cape Town power station completed commissioning tests on 21 July 1984 and started commercial operations in the same year.

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According to Eskom, the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station is a critical anchor for the country's electricity transmission network in the Western Cape.

In the last 40 years, the seaside facility has generated 1,940 megawatts of electricity - comprising 5% of the national grid.

Earlier this month, the National Nuclear Regulator extended the plant's lifespan by 20 years.

By extending the Unit 1 operating license to 2044, Koeberg joins about 120 global nuclear reactors that have pushed operations beyond the initial 40-year timeline.