South Africa: Eskom Confirms No Radiation Leak At Koeberg Unit 2

Lead

Eskom has confirmed that no radiation leak occurred during routine maintenance at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station's Unit 2, assuring the public that there was no risk to employees, surrounding communities or the environment. In a statement issued on Sunday, the utility said the incident, which occurred during scheduled maintenance inspections in July, was classified as Level 0 (no safety significance) on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES) – the lowest possible rating.

Coverage Comparison

Two separate reports from AllAfrica and one from The Hindu – World covered the events. AllAfrica's first piece focused on Eskom's reassurance after radiological contamination incidents during maintenance between June 30 and July 7, noting that low levels of radioactive contamination were contained within the reactor building. A second AllAfrica report provided technical detail, citing Eskom's confirmation that no radiation leak occurred and that the incident was classified as Level 0 on the INES scale, while noting that Koeberg's Unit 1 continues to operate normally.

The Hindu – World's coverage included the broader context of South Africa's nuclear ambitions. The report stated that the incidents were minor and posed no public danger, and highlighted that the plant has operated for 40 years and received a 20-year extension in 2024. It also mentioned South Africa's plans to procure 5.2 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2042.

Key Claims

• Eskom confirmed no radiation leak at Koeberg Unit 2 during routine maintenance in July, with the incident classified as Level 0 on the International Nuclear and Radiological Event Scale (INES). The utility stated that the event had no impact on nuclear safety, plant operations, employees, the public, or the environment, and that the National Nuclear Regulator had been notified.

• Low levels of radioactive contamination were contained within the reactor building, according to Eskom. Highly sensitive radiation monitoring equipment detected two brief and localised airborne radioactivity events inside a controlled work area within the Unit 2 containment building on 2 and 7 July during routine steam generator inspections. The detections were confined to the designated work area and did not result in any release of radioactive material beyond the plant's protective barriers.

• AllAfrica also reported that Eskom's Chief Nuclear Officer, Velaphi Ntuli, said the incidents were safely managed under strict protocols and do not affect the National Nuclear Regulator's decision to extend the operating life of Unit 2 by 20 years.

• The utility explained that the airborne activity occurred during Eddy Current Testing (ECT), a standard non-destructive inspection method used worldwide to assess the condition of steam generator tubes. During the inspection, a minute quantity of microscopic oxide particles, commonly known as "crud," became airborne within the enclosed work area.

• Koeberg's Unit 1 continues to operate normally, as reported by AllAfrica. Unit 2 has been on a planned maintenance outage since April 2026 and remains on schedule to return to service in November.

• The Hindu – World reported that the plant has been in operation for 40 years and was granted a 20-year extension in 2024. It also quoted Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa as saying officials wanted to be transparent about the recent incidents to reassure the public as South Africa pushes ahead with plans to procure 5.2 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2042.

Perspectives

Eskom

The state-owned utility emphasised safety and containment. Eskom stated that the incident had no impact on nuclear safety, plant operations, employees, the public, or the environment, and stressed that the low-level detections were confined to the designated work area inside the containment structure. Eskom's Chief Nuclear Officer, Velaphi Ntuli, said the incidents were safely managed under strict protocols and do not affect the National Nuclear Regulator's decision to extend Unit 2's operating life by 20 years.

South African Government Officials

Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said the incidents were handled efficiently and reinforced confidence in the management of the plant and South Africa's capacity to move into a new phase of nuclear generation. He assured communities near Koeberg that it is safe and reaffirmed the country's progress with the nuclear build programme. Eskom chairman Mteto Nyati, speaking at a press briefing, told reporters that the recorded levels were extremely low – less than the radiation exposure from using a cellphone for several minutes – and that all protocols were followed, with no release into the environment and no risk to the public.