Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 1 taken offline after turbine trip

Eskom has announced that Unit 1 of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station was safely taken offline just before 01:00 on Thursday following a turbine trip. The utility stated that the shutdown was performed within procedure and that nuclear safety was never compromised, posing no risk to employees, the public, or the environment.

While the cause of the turbine trip is currently under investigation, Eskom confirmed that plant monitoring showed operating conditions remained stable throughout the event. The utility emphasized that the removal of Unit 1's capacity does not pose a risk to the national electricity supply, as sufficient generation capacity remains available to keep the grid stable and secure.

Earlier in August 2026, generation at the plant had been temporarily reduced as a precaution due to seawater intake challenges caused by a sardine influx near the cooling water system. This influx coincided with reported sardine mortality along the West Coast, which is currently the subject of an inter-agency investigation led by the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE). Eskom noted there is currently no evidence linking these environmental incidents to the power station's operations.