The Board of Directors of South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has approved a 20-year extension of operations for Unit 2 of the Koeberg nuclear power plant. The decision extends the unit’s operational lifespan until 9 November 2045, beyond its initially planned forty years. The approval process included a series of public consultations held in the Northern and Western Cape provinces.
NNR Board Chairperson Protas Phili stated that the licence was issued following a “rigorous and transparent regulatory process” based on a comprehensive safety assessment of the unit. The regulatory body confirmed that all long-term operation criteria had been met and that public representations were considered during the decision-making process.
Koeberg remains Africa’s only operational nuclear power station
Located near Cape Town, Koeberg remains the only operational nuclear power station on the African continent. Unit 2, which began commercial operation in 1985, was reconnected to South Africa’s national grid on 30 December 2024 after undergoing maintenance to enable the extended operation. Unit 1, in turn, received a similar authorisation in July 2024, allowing it to continue operating until 2044.
Public utility Eskom, which owns and operates the facility, submitted its application in May 2021 to extend the operational life of both pressurised water reactors. The decision aligns with a broader strategy to expand the country’s nuclear capabilities under the recently published Integrated Resource Plan.
South Africa moves toward expanded nuclear capacity
Eskom’s Chief Nuclear Officer, Velaphi Ntuli, praised the technical teams at the plant and stakeholders across South Africa’s nuclear sector. He noted that the extensive work undertaken to meet regulatory demands demonstrates the country’s engineering capabilities in the nuclear field. Eskom continues to invest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education to support future nuclear expansion.
The national energy plan includes 5,200 megawatts of additional nuclear capacity as part of South Africa’s strategy to transform its power system and support industrial recovery. No construction timeline for new reactors has been announced, though the government has confirmed its intent to reinforce the domestic supply chain.
