JOHANNESBURG, July 19 – South Africa will continue with plans to expand its nuclear power generation despite a series of recent safety incidents at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, with regulators confirming that the events posed no threat to the public or the environment.
The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) said three separate contamination events at Africa’s only commercial nuclear power station were successfully contained within the facility and did not result in any release of radioactive material outside the plant.
According to the regulator, the incidents occurred on June 30, July 2 and July 7 during maintenance activities after ventilation units temporarily lost power, leading to elevated airborne radioactive contamination inside the station.
The NNR said workers who may have been exposed underwent screening, with radiation levels recorded below the amount typically associated with a routine dental X-ray.
According to the regulator, “The recent events did not meet the criteria for classification as a nuclear or radiological incident or emergency and did not result in any off-site radiological consequences.”
The regulator added that further inspections are continuing, but emphasised there was no danger to the public and no radioactive contamination escaped into the surrounding environment.
Located approximately 40 kilometres north of Cape Town, the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station has been in operation since the 1980s and remains Africa’s only commercial nuclear power facility. Operated by Eskom, the plant’s two reactors generate approximately 5% of South Africa’s electricity, making it an important component of the country’s energy mix.
The recent safety events come as South Africa pushes ahead with plans to expand nuclear generation to strengthen long-term energy security and diversify electricity supply.
Earlier, Koeberg’s two reactors received 20-year operating licence extensions, allowing the facility to remain in service until after 2040. The extensions form part of the government’s broader strategy to maintain existing nuclear capacity while exploring additional nuclear generation to help address the country’s long-standing electricity supply challenges.
The regulator’s findings are expected to provide reassurance as South Africa advances its nuclear energy programme, with authorities maintaining that safety oversight remains central to future expansion plans.
