KEY POINTS
- Koeberg Unit 2 has passed its mandatory containment leak test.
- The test confirmed the integrity of a critical nuclear safety barrier.
- The result supports the station’s 20-year operating licence extension.
South Africa’s state-owned power utility, Eskom, has announced that Unit 2 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in Cape Town has successfully passed a major containment leak test, confirming the integrity of one of the facility’s most important safety structures.
The successful integrated leak rate test (ILRT) established that the reactor’s containment building remains structurally sound and capable of preventing the escape of radioactive material under the conditions covered by the test.
Eskom said Unit 2 met all the required acceptance criteria, marking an important milestone in the station’s continued operation.
Ten-year safety test completed
The ILRT is a mandatory safety assessment conducted every ten years as part of Koeberg’s nuclear operating and licensing requirements.
The test evaluates whether the containment building can maintain its leak-tightness and perform its intended safety function.
The containment structure serves as a critical protective barrier around the reactor. It is designed to prevent the uncontrolled release of radioactive substances into the surrounding environment in the highly unlikely event of a nuclear accident.
Eskom said the successful outcome demonstrated that the structure continues to perform as designed.
Test supports Koeberg’s extended operation
The completion of the test is also significant for Koeberg’s long-term operating plans, following the National Nuclear Regulator’s approval of a 20-year extension to the station’s operating licence.
Eskom said the result provides additional assurance about the condition and reliability of the facility’s nuclear safety infrastructure as it continues operating under the extended licence.
The development follows a similar successful test on Unit 1 in July 2025. That reactor has continued to operate safely and reliably since completing its assessment.
Eskom highlights role in energy security
Eskom’s generation group executive, Bheki Nxumalo, commended the nuclear teams at Koeberg for meeting the demanding international safety standards and operational schedules required for the station’s continued operation.
He said the power station remained important to the economy of the Western Cape and South Africa as a whole, particularly because of its contribution to national energy security.
Nxumalo also pointed to Koeberg’s ability to generate electricity at some of the lowest unit costs across Eskom’s generation fleet.
The successful test therefore represents both a nuclear safety achievement and an important step in maintaining the station’s contribution to South Africa’s electricity supply.
