TABLE VIEW
Woensdag, 2 September 2026 | Tel: 021 910 6500 | e-pos: nuus@tygerburger.co.za | Website: www.tygerburger.co.za
KOEBERG PLANT RELIES ON SEAWATER INTAKE
Power cut follows sardine influx
A “mini Sardine Run” unfolded in Koeberg Harbour as Cape fur seals and terns gathered to feed on multiple sardine shoals. PHOTO: JEAN TRESFON
KAILIN DANIELS
A
KAILIN.DANIELS@NOVUSMEDIA.CO.ZA
mass influx of sardines along the Western Cape coast has created challenges for the seawater cooling system at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, forcing Eskom to temporarily reduce generation at Unit 1. The incident comes as thousands
of dead sardines continue to wash up along sections of the southwestern and West Coast, with an inter-agency investigation under way to determine what is causing the unusual mass mortality. Eskom previously reduced Koeberg Unit 1’s generation to 50% as a precaution after marine debris associated with the sardine
influx affected the station’s seawater intake system. The station has two units with a combined capacity of 1 800 megawatts. Unit 2 is currently undergoing scheduled maintenance, leaving Unit 1 as the only operational unit at Koeberg. Eskom said the reduction did not affect South Africa’s
RAPE CASE 10111 CALL ‘IGNORED’ REOPENED AFTER BEFORE DU NOON COMPLAINANT KILLINGS PAGE 3 PAGE 5
electricity supply and stressed that nuclear safety was never compromised. COOLING SYSTEM AFFECTED Koeberg relies on seawater as part of its cooling system, making the intake infrastructure critical to the safe operation of the plant. TO PAGE 2
MARINE DEBRIS AT ESKOM’S KOEBERG UNIT SEAWATER INTAKE CAUSES ONE UNIT TO BE SHUT DOWN FOR MAINTENANCE
SCOUTS SMASH TARGET WITH 10 152 MEALS PACKED PAGE 7