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Nuclear facing challenges in South Africa

South Africa’s power supply position has improved, but a drought affecting Cape Town is forcing change at the nuclear plant that supplies much of the city’s electricity South Africa’s power supply position has improved, but a drought affecting Cape Town is forcing change at the nuclear plant that supplies much of the city’s electricity.
By Catriona Scott 6 March 2018 0 29865
Koeberg nuclear power plant provides approximately 50% of the electricity used by Western Cape province. (Wikicommons)

A drought that has limited the supply of water to Cape Town has forced the Koeberg nuclear power plant to start using its groundwater desalination facility to reduce its consumption of the city’s water supplies. Although the plant supplies only 6% of South Africa’s power, it provides approximately 50% of the electricity used by Western Cape province, which has a population of roughly 6.5 million. 

The 1.9 GW Koeberg plant has two reactors and is South Africa’s only nuclear power facility. Unit 1 at the plant...