Unit 1 of the Koeberg power station is currently out of service due to a technical fault on the main generator transformer at the power station.
This has resulted in the unit being isolated from the national grid, Eskom announced in a media release this evening, 1 February 2015.
Eskom says engineers are currently on site to determine the root cause of the fault. The nuclear reactor is not affected by the fault and there are no nuclear safety concerns.
Unit 1 was scheduled to go on a planned refuelling, inspection and maintenance outage on 9 February 2014. The maintenance team will determine if the unit can be brought back in the next few days or be taken out for its planned maintenance earlier than scheduled.
Koeberg Unit 2 is currently generating full power and there is no nuclear safety concern for units 1 and 2. Each unit contributes 930MW to the national power grid.
Although the system remains stable it may be vulnerable overnight. Government and Eskom will give an update on progress at Koeberg and the general state of the power system tomorrow morning, 2 February 2015.
Eskom says it thanks South Africans for heeding the call to use electricity sparingly. “You can play your part by switching off geysers, air conditioners, pool pumps and all non-essential appliances,” Eskom says.
(edited)
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