The Pre-Salto (Safety Aspects of Long-Term Operation) review team said staff at the two-unit station near Cape Town should be given adequate resources to achieve safe LTO “in a timely manner”.
The team called on operator Eskom, a public utility, to plan and implement impressed current cathodic protection (ICCP) of the reactor containment, including tests with a mock-up to further improve corrosion prevention.
ICCP is used to prevent galvanic corrosion and electrolysis from attacking the containment.
During the 3-11 September mission, the Salto team focused on aspects essential to the safe LTO of both units. The mission was a follow-up to an earlier Pre-Salso mission in 2015.
Koeberg is South Africa’s only commercial nuclear power station. Unit 1 began commercial operation in 1984 and Unit 2 in 1985.
In 2018 the two 930-MW pressurissed water reactor units provided about 4.7% of South Africa’s electricity production.
The IAEA said Eskom is planning to extend operation of the units by 20 years for a total operational lifetime of 60 years each.
The station is currently carrying out a periodic safety review to identify safety improvements for the LTO period.
