Eskom says it has pinned hopes on returning Koeberg and Kusile power station units to reduce pressure on the constrained power system.
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The utility has revealed that the national electricity grid remains constrained, with an elevated risk of load shedding over the winter period, particularly during the morning and evening peaks.
In the next few weeks, Eskom will return to service two units at Kusile Power Station.
Koeberg Unit 2 is expected to return by the end of June 2022.
Koeberg lifespan extension
Eskom said the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station continues to operate efficiently and within the required safety parameters, with Unit 1 operating without interruption for 196 days since its last refueling and maintenance outage.
“Apart from the postponement of the Steam Generator Replacement (SGR) on Unit 2 due to the significant risk to the grid posed by delays in carrying out the SGR installation according to the outage plan, other maintenance and refueling outage activities, including the replacement of the reactor vessel head, are progressing as planned.
“The unit, which produced electricity for 454 days without interruption ahead of the January 2022 refueling and maintenance shutdown, is expected to return to service by end June 2022, which will add a great boost to Eskom’s efforts to reduce load shedding and meet the high winter demand. The SGR on this unit has been postponed for the outage next year.”
Additionally the utility said that the Koeberg Long-Term Operation (LTO) activities to enable Koeberg to operate for another 20 years beyond 2024/25 are underway.
By June 2022 Eskom will submit the required supporting documentation to the National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) for evaluation.
Eskom pins hopes on returning Koeberg and Kusile power station units to reduce pressure on constrained power system pic.twitter.com/yGqYSm7wRY
— Eskom Hld SOC Ltd (@Eskom_SA) May 11, 2022