Eskom to impose power cuts after nuclear plant shutdown

• 3 years ago (2021-01-07)
• David Flin

Africa 306 Nuclear 643

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Eskom , the South African state-owned electric utility, has announced it will implement scheduled power blackouts from 6 January, following a shutdown of unit 1 of its Koeberg nuclear power plant. Koeberg Unit 1 was shutdown following a rising leak rate in one of its steam generators.

Eskom said in a statement that it had to shut down unit 1 of its Koeberg station, along with another unit, earlier than planned. It said that the power cuts were needed to recover and preserve emergency generation reserves.

On 4 January, Eskom took Koeberg unit 1 offline for repairs after an increasing leak rate at one of three steam generators, adding that the unit is expected to return to service in May 2021. It added that there was no risk to plant, personnel, or the environment.