South Africa’s state-owned power utility, Eskom announced that the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has approved a 20-year licence extension for unit 2 of the Koeberg NPP, enabling continued operation until 9 November 2045. This follows Eskom’s submission of detailed safety assessments, technical reviews, and infrastructure upgrades as part of the station’s Long-Term Operation (LTO) programme.
Koeberg NPP, located approximately 30 kilometres north of Cape Town, provides around 5% per cent of South Africa’s electricity. Its two pressurised water reactors, supplied by Framatome, with a combined capacity of 1,860 MWe, started commercial operation in 1984 and 1985. Koeberg 1 received a licence to continue operating until 2044 in July 2024.
“The approval marks a significant step in strengthening South Africa’s long-term energy security and reflects Eskom’s commitment to maintaining world-class nuclear safety standards,” Eskom said noting that Koeberg 2 has been operating at an Energy Availability of 100% for 241 consecutive days this year. “This consistent performance underscores the station’s critical role in supporting South Africa’s electricity supply, Eskom noted.
“The licence extension follows the successful completion of an extensive refurbishment and life-extension programme, which included the replacement of three steam generators, thorough safety inspections, and refuelling activities to ensure the unit’s continued safe and efficient operation.”
Eskom added: “This achievement supports South Africa’s broader energy planning objectives, including the Integrated Resource Plan [IRP2025], which recognises the role of nuclear energy in delivering low-carbon, cost-effective, and dependable baseload power…. By extending Koeberg’s lifespan, Eskom avoids the need for immediate large-scale infrastructure replacement, preserves critical nuclear skills, and contributes to reducing carbon emissions.”
Eskom Chief Nuclear Officer Velaphi Ntuli noted that the granting of the extension is a result of the “hard work, focus and dedication of our highly skilled and competent employees at Koeberg” and the support of “colleagues across the company and throughout the nuclear value chain in this country”.
He added: “The rigorous safety assessments and regulatory requirements Eskom had to meet to achieve the long-term operation demonstrate the depth and pipeline of nuclear engineering talent available in South Africa that delivers high-quality jobs. We continue to maintain and develop this talent through investing in Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics [STEM] education as we look to build new nuclear capacity in the coming years in line with the integrated resource plan recently published.”
Dan Marokane, Eskom Group CEO said this is another step in Eskom’s work to provide energy security for South Africa through the execution of the Generation Recovery Plan. “We have ensured that assets the nation has invested in are looked after and continue to serve the country to support socio-economic growth. Koeberg and Eskom’s nuclear power expertise will play a key role as we move aggressively into delivering a cleaner energy portfolio and moving from high carbon to low-carbon sources of electricity generation. With Koeberg providing more vital baseload power it further forms the backbone for renewable energy growth and integration into the grid to maintain grid stability and supply.”
The licence extension reflects South Africa’s capability to manage complex energy infrastructure with excellence, said Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom Group Executive for Generation. “It strengthens our commitment to a low-carbon, secure energy future and aligns with national planning priorities to diversify and stabilise the electricity supply.”
Koeberg, the only PP currently operating in Africa, has earned NOSCAR safety status from the National Occupational Safety Association (NOSA) more than 14 times, reflecting its world-class safety culture.
NNR said the decision by its board of directors followed a “comprehensive and transparent regulatory process”, which included a third set of public hearings held in the Northern and Western Cape provinces in late September and early October “so that public concerns could be considered in the decision”.
“The NNR’s primary mandate is to protect persons, property, and the environment against the harmful effects of radiation. This licence approval was granted after a rigorous safety assessment which confirmed that all regulatory requirements for the period of long-term operation have been met for Unit 2 and relevant public representations were considered in the decision-making process,” said NNR Board Chairperson Protas Phili.
According to Marokane: “This licence extension is a strategic win for South Africa. It demonstrates our ability to operate complex infrastructure safely and supports our transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy future.”
