Nuclear Regulator grants Eskom permission to extend life of Koeberg Unit 1 to July 2044

South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) board has approved a 20-year life extension for Koeberg Unit 1, but has deferred a decision on the nuclear power station’s Unit 2 until late 2025, owing to the fact that an assessment of the second reactor’s safety case is still ongoing. The decision, which was announced on July 15, came only days ahead of the July 21, 2024 expiry of Unit 1’s existing licence and effectively extended its operating life until July 21, 2044.