South African officials say Koeberg contamination was minor

South African officials said on Sunday that recent radioactive contamination incidents at the Koeberg nuclear power plant were minor and posed no danger to the public.

Officials said airborne radioactive contamination was detected during scheduled maintenance at Koeberg, about 30 kilometres north of Cape Town, between June 30 and July 16.

Mteto Nyati, chairman of state-owned energy authority Eskom, which runs the plant, said the recorded levels were very low and compared them to less than the radiation exposure from using a mobile phone for several minutes. He said all protocols were followed and that testing of workers showed minimal exposure.

Nyati said there was no release into the environment and no risk to the public.

Energy minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa said the incidents were handled efficiently and supported confidence in the management of the plant and in South Africa's ability to expand nuclear generation. He said communities near Koeberg should be reassured that it is safe, and said the country was continuing with its nuclear build programme.

Koeberg has operated for 40 years and was granted a 20-year extension in 2024. Ramokgopa said officials wanted to be transparent about the incidents as South Africa pursues plans to procure 5.2 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2042.

South Africa relies on coal for most of its electricity and is looking for other power sources to meet growing demand. It is the only country in Africa operating a nuclear power plant, while another plant is under construction in Egypt.