Page 12 - AfrElec Week 07 2021

AfrElec NEWS IN BRIEF AfrElec

NUCLEAR the proposed 20-year extension of Koeberg’s long-term system health of the containment
lifespan and additional nuclear builds are buildings is the deterioration of the externally
Safety concerns over being debated.” exposed concrete surfaces due to chloride
ingress that causes reinforcement corrosion
However, Eskom said in a statement it
Koeberg containment is “fully cognisant of the risk of corrosion and the potential effect on the pre-stressing
of civil structures” at the Koeberg plant in
tendons. It said concrete repairs have been
refuted Duynefontein, 27km north of Cape Town, on implemented to reinstate areas of the external
façades where spalling and delamination
the Atlantic coast.
South African utility Eskom and the National “Ongoing testing on the Koeberg occurred due to reinforcement corrosion.
Nuclear Regulator have refuted media reports containment buildings, which house the “A long-term solution to prevent rebar
that the reinforced concrete containment reactor and associated nuclear components, and tendon corrosion due to chloride
buildings at the Koeberg nuclear power plant have proven the structures to be capable of ingress is the implementation of an induced
have suffered extensive corrosion and would withstanding the most severe accident,” the cathodic protection system,” Eskom added.
not be able to prevent the release of radiation utility said. “This containment programme “This is being implemented as previously
in the event of a severe accident. They say has been managed closely since construction.” recommended by a team of international civil
tests have confirmed the performance of the Eskom noted these tests comprise quarterly engineering experts.”
structures, to which repairs have already been and annual measurements to identify any
made. abnormal movement (such as expansions,
Media reports said the Koeberg Alert settling, etc), visual inspections to identify
Alliance (KAA) had been notified of physical degradation (such as cracks, COAL
structural problems at Koeberg by a spalling, efflorescence) and by performing
“concerned insider”. The KAA says: “At one the Integrated Leak Rate Tests (ILRT) on a Tlou Energy’s proposed
stage the concrete containment dome was 10-yearly basis. “The results of the ILRTs have
found to have cracked around the entire 110 shown conclusively that the design functions Lesedi Power Project to be
meter circumference.” of the containment buildings are met.” It
In August 2020, KAA made two requests added the test results were compared with carbon neutral.
under the Promotion of Access to Information international plants of similar design and
Act legislation. The first was a request for found to be in line with industry norms. Tlou Energy is working towards the goal
the latest report on chloride damage to the he National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) of being the first carbon neutral baseload
concrete reactor containment domes, and the confirmed that the Koeberg plant currently power project in Botswana by advancing land
second was related to damage to the stainless complies with regular tests required by the acquisition.
steel used in the structures of the plant. The regulator. “Furthermore, with the information The Company has already negotiated land
anti-nuclear group said Eskom had provided at our disposal we can confirm that despite the access and leasing agreements with relevant
it with a 31-page report which refers to repairs concrete cracking and delamination observed landholders for the power generation facility
carried out up until 2018, has 11 pages entirely on the outer surface, the containment and a new field operations camp, recent steps
blacked out, and various other sections, structures remain currently effective for have been taken to acquire additional land for
photos and tables redacted with the reason protecting the environment from radiation carbon sequestration.
given as “sensitive technical information”. during accident conditions,” it said yesterday. The availability of land and labour within
“What is in the report is deeply disturbing NNR CEO Bismark Tyobeka said: “The the Lesedi project area is viewed favourably by
and contradicts claims of safety,” said KAA’s Koeberg nuclear power station is continuously the Company for developing a carbon neutral
Peter Becker. “There should be no need monitored to ensure that the operation power project.
to hide the extent of the damage or the of the plant complies with nuclear safety Tlou’s Managing Director, Mr Tony Gilby
associated costs of the repairs. There is a requirements at all stages of operation.” commented, “There is considerable scope for
great need for transparency from Eskom as Eskom said the main concern to the using the savanna ecosystem of the Lesedi

P12 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 07 18•February•2021