Accra: Several workers at South Africa's Koeberg Nuclear Power Station were exposed to radiation during maintenance work in three incidents over recent weeks, Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa reported at a media briefing on Sunday. Ramokgopa assured that the incidents were contained, with no release of radioactive material into the environment and no danger posed to nearby communities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the incidents occurred on June 30 and July 2 and 7, at the power plant located approximately 30 kilometers north of Cape Town. The minister attributed the cause to a temporary power outage that disrupted the plant's ventilation systems. He noted that the radiation doses received by the workers were lower than those from a routine dental X-ray.
Velaphi Ntuli, head of the country's nuclear safety division, stated that the incidents did not meet the threshold for reportable nuclear safety events. The South African government remains committed to nuclear energy as a significant component of the nation's future energy strategy.
South Africa plans to add 5.2 gigawatts (GW) of nuclear generating capacity by 2039, despite public concerns regarding these expansion efforts. The country has been grappling with severe electricity shortages and rolling blackouts, and the government views nuclear power as crucial to establishing a more reliable electricity supply.
Currently, South Africa's electricity generation heavily relies on coal. The government's long-term goal is to transition to producing the majority of the country's electricity from non-fossil fuel sources by 2050.