Koeberg’s life extension battle

[William Brederode]

Koeberg’s life extension battle

The public comment period on the decision to extend Koeberg's lifespan has closed. Advocacy groups say questions remain.

 

[konfab]

The executive director of the Southern African Faith Communities Environment Institute, Francesca de Gasparis, said the lack of information and inadequate infrastructure are behind their opposition to the extension.

“Concerns range from the issue of a potential grid collapse (due to load-shedding) to concerns about the containment buildings that protect us from radioactive leaks.”

Speaking on eNCA, she said there are many holes in the information provided on the lifespan extension and a lack of willingness to engage the public.

She highlighted that the application is for a 20-year extension to the lifespan of Koeberg when the French, who helped build Koeberg, have never extended their reactors by more than 10 years at a time.

How is that relevant?


Raise a proper issue like the DA has done:

According to the IAEA mission report, the Koeberg life extension project faces significant challenges, some of which include:

• Management of the Long Term Operation (LTO) programme is not effective to timely complete all actions to prepare for LTO;
• The safety analysis report (SAR) has not been adequately updated for LTO and ageing management;
• Completeness and consistency of scope setting of structures, systems and components (SSCs) for ageing management and LTO are not ensured;
• The plant programmes are not comprehensively reviewed and implemented for LTO;
• Information used for ageing management review (AMR) of mechanical SSCs is not consistently managed and documented;
• Ageing management programmes (AMPs) for mechanical SSCs are not complete;
• The plant has not completely implemented a comprehensive cable ageing management programme;
• The plant has not revalidated environmental qualification for some SSCs for LTO;
• Electromagnetic compatibility has not been completely assessed;
• The plant has not revalidated the environmental qualification of qualified cables for LTO;
• A proactive approach to technological obsolescence management is not fully implemented;
• The plant has not comprehensively revalidated the time limited ageing analyses (TLAAs) for concrete structures;
• Containment structure monitoring system is not fully functional;
• Ageing management programmes for civil structures are not fully developed and implemented.

https://www.da.org.za/2022/10/iaea-...e-koeberg-life-extension-project-is-in-crisis