The National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) board has granted a Long-Term Operator (LTO) licence for Unit 2 at the Koeberg nuclear power station, in the Western Cape, authorising the unit’s extended operation for an additional 20-year period.

Prior to the LTO approval, Koeberg Unit 2’s licence was due to expire on November 9, 2025.

The regulator granted a similar 20-year extension to Koeberg Unit 1 on July 15, 2024, when it also deferred its LTO decision on Unit 2 until late 2025, owing to the fact that an assessment of the second reactor’s safety case was still ongoing.

The NNR had also agreed to Eskom’s request to have Unit 2’s licence separated from that of Unit 1, whose initial licence was due to expire on July 21, 2024.

The regulator said the decision followed a transparent regulatory process that had included a third set of public hearings held in the Northern and Western Cape provinces in late September and early October 2025 after Eskom submitted additional information related to its LTO application. 

“This licence approval was granted after a rigorous safety assessment which confirmed that all regulatory requirements for the period of long-term operation have been met for Unit 2 and relevant public representations were considered in the decision-making process,” NNR chairperson Protas Phili said in a statement issued on November 6.

In reaction, Eskom described the approval as a significant step in strengthening South Africa’s long-term energy security and said it reflected its commitment to maintaining world-class nuclear safety standards.

“This licence extension is a strategic win for South Africa. It demonstrates our ability to operate complex infrastructure safely and supports our transition to a cleaner, more resilient energy future,” CEO Dan Marokane said in a statement.

Eskom noted that the two Koeberg units were now part of a global cohort of more than 120 nuclear reactors that had been extended beyond their original 40-year design periods.

It also argued that the extension avoided the need for immediate large-scale infrastructure replacement, preserved critical nuclear skills, and contributed to reducing carbon emissions.

“Koeberg Nuclear Power Station Unit 2, currently contributing 946 MW to the national grid, has demonstrated exceptional reliability by operating at 100% energy availability factor for 241 consecutive days this year,” Eskom added.