Both Unit 1 and Unit 2 had well-documented structural issues.
The “egregious delays in performing maintenance that is critical to safety” at the Koeberg nuclear station is one of the grounds an environmental justice organisation is relying on in its appeal against a 20-year licence renewal for the power plant.
The Southern African Faith Communities’ Environment Institute (Safcei) contends that the National Nuclear Regulator’s (NNR’s) decision to extend the operational life of Unit 1 is “fatally flawed”.
Their application to Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa also cited the NNR’s alleged failure to properly perform their oversight role. Eskom was granted a licence in July.
In their appeal papers, the organisation states: “Documentation supporting the long-term operation (LTO), including the safety case, did not demonstrate that the regulatory requirements for LTO are met and that it is safe to continue operating the Koeberg Nuclear Plants for an additional 20 years from 2024 until to 2044 (Unit 1) and 2045 (Unit 2) ...“This is because all the necessary repairs, tests and analyses fundamental thereto had not been completed and checked for compliance prior to the application to the determination of the LTO application ... the NNR decision to allow Unit 1 to continue to operate for a further 20 years is unlawful because it has been made without there currently being a properly functioning monitoring system that can reliably monitor what is happening inside the containment building at all times.”
The NNR spokesperson, Gino Moonsamy, said the licence was valid until a competent authority set the decision aside.
“The appeal authority is the minister responsible for Energy as contemplated in Section 45 of the National Nuclear Regulator Act.
“In terms of the NNR Act, the minister may, after consideration of the appeal, take any of the following decisions: Confirm, set aside, or vary the decision; or they could substitute any other decision for the decision of the board. An administrative decision remains valid until set aside by a competent authority,” said Moonsamy.
The NNR said that it had held a series of public consultations where members of the public were provided with opportunities to express their concerns in writing and make oral presentations on health, safety and environmental issues connected with the LTO.
Enquiries to the ministry had not been answered by deadline on Wednesday
Safcei’s executive director, Francesca de Gasparis, said both Unit 1 and Unit 2 had well-documented structural issues.
Additionally, De Gasparis said that the NNR’s decision to allow the long-term extension of life of the reactor was concerning, “particularly given signs of significant safety issues found by the International Atomic Energy Agency in Koeberg’s reactors”.
Safcei advocates for the rapid transition to renewable energy sources, such as wind, solar, and battery storage.
“(We highlight) that, even in the absence of accidents, the unresolved issue of safely storing the additional highly toxic radioactive waste in Northern Cape and on-site remains a serious concern.”
Cape Times