South Africa has the most established nuclear power program on the African continent. Its two commercial reactors at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, north of Cape Town, are the only operating nuclear power units in Africa. Together they provide about 1,860 megawatts and normally account for around five percent of South Africa’s electricity.
That share is smaller than coal’s contribution, but Koeberg’s strategic value is greater than the percentage suggests. The plant supplies low-carbon electricity to the Western Cape and supports a national grid that has faced aging power stations, generation shortages and load shedding. Each unit can deliver about 930 megawatts at full output.
The pressurized water reactors entered commercial operation in the 1980s and were designed around an original 40-year operating life. South Africa has now completed the main regulatory and engineering work needed to keep both units operating for another two decades.
Both Reactors Can Now Operate Into the 2040s
Koeberg Unit 1 received a 20-year operating licence extension in July 2024, allowing it to operate until July 2044. Unit 2 received its extension in November 2025 and can operate until November 2045. These decisions preserve South Africa’s entire commercial nuclear fleet while much of its coal capacity continues to age.
The life-extension program required extensive engineering work. Eskom replaced the three steam generators in each unit, completed inspections and modernized equipment needed for long-term operation. Unit 1 completed its replacement program before its licence extension, while Unit 2 returned after its own steam-generator work and maintenance program.
Koeberg cannot solve South Africa’s electricity problems alone. Refuelling and maintenance outages remove one 930-megawatt unit from the grid for several weeks, so Eskom staggers them to avoid having both units offline together.
The extensions nevertheless protect a major existing asset. Replacing the same amount of dependable low-carbon generation would require years of investment, while continued operation preserves nuclear skills and supply relationships already established in South Africa.
Nuclear Reliability Matters in a Coal-Dominated System
South Africa’s electricity system remains dominated by coal. Poor maintenance, equipment failures and delays at newer plants contributed to severe load shedding during the early 2020s. In this environment, a well-performing nuclear station provides stable output that is not affected by weather or coal-delivery problems.
Koeberg is particularly important to the Western Cape because most coal generation is located far to the northeast. Generation near Cape Town reduces the amount of electricity that must travel over long transmission routes and supports stability in the southern grid.
Nuclear power is still only one part of the solution. South Africa is adding wind, solar, batteries and private generation, while also requiring new transmission lines and flexible resources. Koeberg provides a stable foundation, but it cannot substitute for grid reform or rapid investment in other capacity.
Its extended life gives the government time to decide whether additional reactors are justified. Without the licence extensions, that decision would have been forced by the approaching retirement of both units.
New Nuclear Policy Has Moved Faster Than Procurement
South African policy continues to support more nuclear capacity, but the route from policy to construction remains uncertain. The 2019 Integrated Resource Plan included 2,500 megawatts of new nuclear power to be procured at a pace and scale the country could afford.
The government announced plans to begin procurement, but the ministerial determination supporting the process was withdrawn in August 2024. The withdrawal followed legal challenges and concerns about whether public consultation had been adequate. Officials described the move as a pause for further consultation rather than an end to nuclear expansion.
Current departmental planning still includes work to enable a 2,500-megawatt new-build program and considers small modular reactors. However, preparing a framework is not the same as awarding a contract. No new commercial nuclear reactor is under construction in South Africa.
This distinction matters because previous expansion efforts created concerns about cost, procurement governance and the country’s ability to finance a large program. Any new process will need transparent competition, credible demand forecasts and a financing structure that does not place unsustainable pressure on Eskom, the state or electricity customers.
Affordability Will Determine the Technology
South Africa has clear reasons to consider nuclear power. It must replace retiring coal capacity, reduce emissions and maintain reliable electricity for mines, factories and cities. It also has operating experience, a nuclear regulator, research institutions and a skilled technical workforce.
The largest obstacle is capital cost. Conventional reactors require major spending before they begin producing electricity. Their costs must be compared with combinations of renewable generation, storage, gas, transmission and demand management, while also accounting for reliability across the full system.
Large reactors could deliver substantial output from a compact site, but they would concentrate construction and financing risk. Small modular reactors are promoted as a way to add capacity in smaller stages, although their commercial costs and delivery schedules remain uncertain.
A new plant near Koeberg could use some existing nuclear infrastructure, while the Thyspunt area in the Eastern Cape has also been studied as a possible site. Site choice would affect transmission, water use, environmental approvals and regional development.
The practical question is not whether South Africa has nuclear expertise. It is whether the country can procure new capacity at a cost, pace and risk level that fits its electricity market and public finances.
South Africa’s Nuclear Industry Extends Beyond Electricity
The South African Nuclear Energy Corporation operates the SAFARI-1 research reactor at Pelindaba. The 20-megawatt thermal reactor reached first criticality in 1965 and supports research, training and production of medical radioisotopes.
SAFARI-1 is important for molybdenum-99 and other isotopes used in healthcare. South Africa exports nuclear medicine products and has developed specialized skills in reactor operation, radiochemistry and isotope processing.
Because the reactor is aging, Necsa is developing a new multipurpose research reactor. The government has approved progress into detailed design work. The project is separate from commercial power generation, but it is important for preserving scientific capability, export income and South Africa’s position in the medical-isotope market.
This wider nuclear network includes universities, Eskom, Necsa, the National Nuclear Regulator and specialist suppliers. It gives South Africa a technical base that few other African countries possess.
Spent Fuel Requires Infrastructure Beyond Koeberg
Koeberg stores used fuel on site in pools and dry-storage casks. This is an interim solution, and extending the plant’s life will require additional capacity. The National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute is planning a centralized interim storage facility so spent fuel does not remain at reactor sites indefinitely.
The Vaalputs facility in the Northern Cape receives low-level radioactive waste, but spent fuel and high-level waste require a different system. National policy identifies deep geological disposal as the preferred final option, with centralized storage acting as a bridge.
Waste planning will become more important if additional reactors are built. Transport, interim storage, decommissioning and final disposal must be included in the project structure from the beginning.
Existing Nuclear Is Secure, but Expansion Is Not
South Africa has resolved its most urgent nuclear question by extending both Koeberg units into the 2040s. This protects 1,860 megawatts of low-carbon generation and preserves the country’s commercial nuclear operating base.
The next decision is more difficult. Government policy supports new capacity, but procurement, financing and public confidence remain unresolved. New reactors will advance only if South Africa can show that they are affordable, transparently procured and integrated into a wider plan for generation, transmission and electricity-market reform.
