Electricity Minister explains the contamination event at South Africa’s only nuclear power station
South Africa’s only nuclear power station, Koeberg, has had three radioactive contamination incidents in recent weeks, but Electricity Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa says South Africans should not be worried.
The three events occurred at Unit 2 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, on the outskirts of Cape Town, during maintenance work on 30 June, 2 July and 7 July.
This was due to a power outage to the ventilation units serving temporary maintenance tents inside the reactor building.
While the result was elevated airborne radioactive contamination, it was controlled only within the containment building and remained isolated there.
No radioactive material was released into the environment, and there was no risk to nearby communities.
Workers exposed also received radiation at levels lower than those from a dental X-ray. It was also less than a couple of minutes of use of one’s mobile phone.
Ramokgopa said that Koeberg was operating for over 40 years, with unit 2 at the power station receiving an extension of life for another 20 years.
The Minister said this was possible because Koeberg was operating with little to no evidence of incidents.
Although nuclear energy is seen as incredibly dangerous, coal-fired power stations kill thousands of people in South Africa.
Ramokgopa admitted that nuclear energy needs to be addressed, given the state’s plan to secure an additional 5.2 GW of nuclear capacity by 2039. Koeberg produces around 2GW of power.
He also emphasised that Koeberg’s power has been essential in stopping load shedding in the country over the last several years.
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