Koeberg becomes operational

The nuclear power station at Koeberg, the only commercial nuclear power station in Africa, became operational on this date. On 21 August 1984, the French contractor turned Koeberg-1 over to South Africa's Electricity Supply Commission (Eskom) and the plant was issued its commercial operating license. Koeberg is situated at Duynefontein, 27km north of Cape Town on the Atlantic coast. The power station provides electricity to the Western Cape and supplies 6,5% of South Africa's total electricity needs. It has operated safely for more than seventeen years and is expected to operate for another twenty to thirty years.