South Africa’s National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) has confirmed that three radioactive contamination incidents occurred at the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station over the past two weeks, but stressed that no radioactive material was released into the environment.
The incidents took place on 30 June, 2 July and 7 July 2026 during maintenance work at the Unit 2 reactor building after power failures affected ventilation systems serving temporary maintenance tents. The contamination remained confined to controlled areas within the plant.
The NNR said workers who may have been exposed were screened, with radiation doses recorded below those typically associated with a dental X-ray. It added that there was no radiological risk to the public or the environment.
Koeberg, located about 27 kilometres north of Cape Town, is Africa’s only nuclear power station. Operated by Eskom, the facility has two reactors with a combined capacity of 1,854 megawatts, supplying about five per cent of South Africa’s electricity. In November 2025, the regulator approved a 20-year operating licence extension for the plant until 9 November 2045.