• South Africa extends Koeberg Unit 2 nuclear license by 20 years to 2045
• Unit 2 ran 241 days at full capacity; major upgrades completed
• Extension supports 5,000 MW nuclear plan under IRP 2025 energy strategy

The National Nuclear Regulator has approved a 20-year extension of the operating license for Unit 2 of South Africa’s Koeberg power station.

South African power utility Eskom said on Nov. 6 that the decision allows the unit, located 27 kilometers north of Cape Town, to remain operational until Nov. 9, 2045. It follows a similar 20-year extension granted in 2024 for Unit 1.

The approval followed Eskom’s submission of safety studies, technical reviews, and a modernization plan under its long-term program.

Reliability and Expansion Plans

Unit 2 achieved a 100% energy-availability factor for 241 consecutive days this year. Refurbishment work included replacing steam generators, conducting safety checks, and refueling operations.

“The granting of the 20-year life extension to Koeberg Unit 2, following on from last year’s similar extension for Unit 1, is a result of the hard work, focus and dedication of our highly skilled and competent employees at Koeberg,” said Velaphi Ntuli, Eskom’s Chief Nuclear Officer.

Koeberg, commissioned in 1985, is Africa’s only operational nuclear plant and the southernmost in the world. It powers the Western Cape and houses the largest turbines in the Southern Hemisphere. The facility has earned the National Occupational Safety Association’s NOSCAR award more than 14 times for its safety performance.

Nuclear in South Africa’s Energy Mix

South Africa remains the only African nation operating a nuclear plant, though Egypt is expected to join with the Rosatom-backed El-Dabaa project. The development underscores the maturity of South Africa’s nuclear sector and its role in the shift to a low-carbon energy mix.

The extension aligns with government plans for a 5,000 MW nuclear expansion led by the South African Nuclear Energy Corporation. The initiative forms part of IRP 2025, which calls for adding 11,270 MW of solar and 7,340 MW of wind power by 2030 to stabilize the grid and reduce coal dependence.

Abdoullah Diop