Koeberg Nuclear Power Station’s Unit 1 was safely taken offline shortly before 1am on Thursday following a turbine trip, with Eskom confirming that nuclear safety was never compromised.
According to Eskom, the unit was shut down in line with established safety procedures, while plant monitoring systems confirmed that operating conditions remained stable throughout the incident.
The utility said there was no risk to employees, the public or the environment, and that Koeberg’s protection and monitoring systems operated as designed to ensure the plant remained safe.
Eskom also assured South Africans that the loss of Unit 1’s generating capacity would not affect the stability of the national electricity grid.
The utility said it has sufficient generation capacity available and that the electricity supply remains stable and secure.
Unit 1 was last taken offline for major maintenance, which was completed in October 2025. Since returning to service, the unit has operated reliably.
Generation was temporarily reduced earlier this month as a precaution following seawater intake challenges linked to a sardine influx near the station’s cooling water system.
The sardine influx coincided with reports of increased sardine mortality along the South-Western and West Coast. An inter-agency investigation led by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is continuing, with no evidence at this stage linking the incidents to Koeberg’s operations.
The cause of Thursday’s turbine trip is now under investigation. Eskom said it would provide further updates as more information becomes available.
According to Eskom, the unit was shut down in line with established safety procedures, while plant monitoring systems confirmed that operating conditions remained stable throughout the incident.
The utility said there was no risk to employees, the public or the environment, and that Koeberg’s protection and monitoring systems operated as designed to ensure the plant remained safe.
Eskom also assured South Africans that the loss of Unit 1’s generating capacity would not affect the stability of the national electricity grid.
The utility said it has sufficient generation capacity available and that the electricity supply remains stable and secure.
Unit 1 was last taken offline for major maintenance, which was completed in October 2025. Since returning to service, the unit has operated reliably.
Generation was temporarily reduced earlier this month as a precaution following seawater intake challenges linked to a sardine influx near the station’s cooling water system.
The sardine influx coincided with reports of increased sardine mortality along the South-Western and West Coast. An inter-agency investigation led by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is continuing, with no evidence at this stage linking the incidents to Koeberg’s operations.
The cause of Thursday’s turbine trip is now under investigation. Eskom said it would provide further updates as more information becomes available.
