Koeberg’s power unit functioning again

Koeberg’s power unit functioning again

August 14 2008 at 01:29PM

The Koeberg nuclear power station’s unit number two is functioning fully again following a shutdown three weeks ago, Eskom said on Thursday.

“The unit has commenced generating electricity and was synchronised to the national electricity grid at 11.50pm on Wednesday. At 11.20am today (Thursday) the unit was operating at 63 percent of its capacity, sending out 569 megawatts to the national electricity grid,” the power utility said in a statement.

Eskom said a full operating load of 900 megawatts was expected on Friday morning.

On July 21 unit 2 was shut down following a hydrogen leak on the cooling system in the generator. The nuclear reactor side of the unit was not affected.

“The shutdown of the Koeberg unit placed strain on the national power grid and in particular the Western Cape,” said Eskom’s Brian Dames.

“The increased use of the two new Open Cycle Gas Turbine stations in the Cape together with electricity savings resulted in the supply of electricity continuing uninterrupted during the period when the Koeberg unit was out of service.” – Sapa

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