Eskom says delayed return of Koeberg Unit 1 will not increase loadshedding risk
Eskom said the delayed return to service of Unit 1 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station will not increase the risk of loadshedding.
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Eskom has assured South Africans that the extended outage of Koeberg Nuclear Power Station’s Unit 1 will not increase the risk of loadshedding during the current winter period.
The utility had initially planned for Unit 1 to return to service in July, but it is now scheduled to be back online by the end of August due to additional maintenance work. However, Eskom stressed that this delay poses no threat to grid stability.
“The revised return date for Koeberg Unit 1 will not increase the risk of loadshedding,” Eskom said. “The Winter Outlook released on 5 May 2025 remains valid.”
Eskom explained that even in the event of unplanned outages rising to 15000 megawatts (MW), loadshedding would be limited to a maximum of 21 days over the 153-day winter period and would not exceed Stage 2.
“Since 15 May 2025, no loadshedding has been implemented, and only 26 hours of loadshedding have been recorded for the financial year to date (1 April to 10 July 2025),” the utility added.
The power utility said the delay in the return of Unit 1 follows the discovery of defects in four tubes across two newly installed steam generators during detailed eddy current inspections. These defects were repaired using an advanced automated process, with support from international specialists.
Eskom said the work is part of the second phase of its long-term operation maintenance programme. “Our top priority is always the safety of our employees, the public, and the environment,” said Bheki Nxumalo, Eskom’s Group Executive for Generation. “We are investing in the long-term reliability of Koeberg and South Africa’s energy future.”
Nxumalo highlighted the importance of the planned work: “The planned maintenance underway on Unit 1 will help deliver decades of affordable, low-carbon baseload power, demonstrating how nuclear energy can support both economic growth and environmental sustainability.”
Eskom also said that Unit 2 at Koeberg remains fully operational, delivering up to 946MW with an Energy Availability Factor of 99.98% as of June 2025. Overall, the national power system is stable, with a month-to-date EAF of 62%.
Eskom also celebrated the addition of 1,600MW to the grid from Kusile and Medupi power stations this year, reinforcing its commitment to improving electricity supply.