Eskom confirmed on Friday that it had shut down unit one of the Koeberg power station to replace rubber diaphragms on the valves in the main steam line.
In a statement late on Thursday afternoon, the state-owned power utility said that two rubber valves were no longer operating as they should and would be replaced as part of regular maintenance of the power station.
”The nuclear side of the unit will not be affected by the controlled shutdown and will be kept safe at all times.”
The replacement work would take a few days to complete and the unit was expected to be returned to service by Wednesday next week.
The inadequate reserve margin between available electricity generation capacity and demand continued, Eskom said.
”The shutdown of Koeberg unit one will increase the strain on the national power grid and in particular the Western Cape.”
The power utility, however, did not expect power-supply interruptions while the unit was being repaired.
”We will use the two open-cycle gas-turbine power stations in the Western Cape to ensure continuity of electricity supply during this period and to alleviate the strain in the national grid resulting from the shutdown.
”We have also selected to do the maintenance work over the weekend due to the generally low levels of demand during this time compared to weekdays,” Eskom added. — Sapa