Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in Cape Town Photo ESI Africa
South Africa – The country is currently facing significant challenges in its energy sector, with frequent power outages and an unreliable electrical system. One of the major concerns and reasons for this is the delay in the refurbishment of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station.
The Koeberg Nuclear Power Station plays a crucial role in South Africa’s energy generation. However, the refurbishment process has been beset by delays, particularly with one of the units. Given that Koeberg’s licence is set to expire in 2024, it is crucial to complete the refurbishment and extend its operational life, explained energy expert, Ruse Moleshe. The extension is expected to last over 20 to 30 years, allowing South Africa to continue benefiting from Koeberg’s reliable and cost-effective electricity generation.
“There are upgrades that need to happen and it needs to be done for the plant to comply with environmental and safety requirements. There seems to be a delay with one of the units and the second unit is supposed to come in immediately. When there’s a delay with the first unit, it means now there will be almost 920 megawatts, which is a huge capacity, that will be off. If both of them are off at the same time, that will exacerbate the problem we already have.”
Reasons for the delay at Koeberg and necessary actions that can be taken
The delay in Koeberg’s refurbishment can be attributed to various factors, including the departure of skilled personnel and challenges in outage management and procurement. The departure of experts, such as the head of Koeberg, has contributed to the problem. Furthermore, issues related to procuring necessary parts have caused additional delays.
“Quite a few people with skills have been leaving Eskom [for overseas opportunities]. That is part of the problem. The other part is the whole system, there has been a struggle within Eskom in terms of managing outages. Meaning that if you say an outage will be over three months you at least are able to meet those timelines. We understand that Eskom has parted ways with Mr Oberholzer, who was one of the people who were responsible for making sure that the project management happens within [Koeberg].”
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Short-term Optimism versus Long-term Reliability
The complexity of South Africa’s electrical system requires a balanced approach to communication and planning. Optimistic announcements without considering potential disruptions can mislead consumers. The complexity of the situation is why the Minister of Electricity, Kgosientsho Ramokgopa, has had to change his tune about loadshedding week in, week out.
“Eskom is trying to recover their system, their coal-fired power plants and make sure that they perform at a particular level. They are not yet there, and the announcements are optimistic without taking into account that system, something can go wrong anytime. He [Ramokgopa] uses a seven-day forecast whereas infrastructure is a long-term game. You have to look at the reliability of the plans that you have to maintain over a longer period of time and not be keen to say the good news to consumers because anything can go wrong.”
It is always a balancing act between the demand and supply side. While individuals can partially address the issue through various different systems, they still rely on the national grid. They only use these systems during loadshedding. To ensure reliability, South Africa needs additional capacity and standby options to mitigate any unforeseen problems.
“Until we have new capacity, additional capacity, that standby capacity for any eventuality for e.g. If there’s a problem with Koeberg and it’s prolonged then that capacity will be able to come in, that’s what other countries do. Unfortunately, we don’t have that, and we won’t have reliability until those issues are sorted out.”
Assessing the future of South Africa’s energy sector
It is difficult to provide a definitive answer regarding the future of South Africa’s energy situation. While there have been positive developments with Eskom’s turnaround efforts, it is important to recognise that the current solutions are short-term fixes. The failure to promptly address critical infrastructure issues has exacerbated the situation.
“I do have confidence in terms of the Eskom board and how they are trying to turn things around. We’ve seen some success but I think that we should not be naive. These solutions that we are busy with now, Koeberg and other things, should have been done years prior to be able to meet the demand we have now. Now we’re scrambling, we’re trying to fix things here and there. We are not going to have a reliable [system] for at least a minimum of two years but we may have some respite in terms of the intensity of loadshedding.”
The energy sector is facing significant challenges, with the refurbishment delay of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station being a primary concern. The government’s communication regarding the energy situation has been inconsistent, leading to confusion among the public. To achieve long-term reliability, it is crucial to address infrastructure needs, improve outage management, and invest in alternative energy sources. While there is hope for improved energy supply in the future, it is important to acknowledge the time and effort required to overcome the current energy crisis in South Africa.
Ruse Moleshe discussed the Karpowership with Julie Alli, the controversy behind it as well as how those negotiations are going. Listen to that discussion here:
