Eskom postpones Koeberg bid selection

• 10 years ago (2014-05-16)
• Junior Isles

Africa 320 North America 1021 Nuclear 659

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South Africa’s state-owned generating utility, Eskom, has postponed the selection of the winning bid to replace six steam generators at the Koeberg nuclear power station.

In October the utility said it expected to announce the selected bidder early this year. However, Tony Stott, the utility’s nuclear spokesman, said the project was “still in the procurement phase”.

He said “no decision has yet been taken on timing and vendors”, adding that a decision would probably be made towards the end of next month.

When Eskom announced its intention in 2012 to embark on the replacement project, likely to cost around $350 million, it said it hoped to award the contract early last year. This was moved to early this year and now it has been moved to June.

The Koeberg retrofit is part of the government’s nuclear programme to add 9600 MW of nuclear capacity by 2030.

French multi-national Areva and US-based Westinghouse, controlled by the Toshiba Group, have reportedly submitted bids. The steam generators in unit 1 have been in operation since 1984 and in unit 2 since 1985. Eskom believes replacing the generators will also extend the life of Koeberg by at least another 10 years.