Eskom celebrates 40 years of Koeberg Unit 1

JOHANNESBURG - Koeberg Nuclear Power Station marks 40 years of safe nuclear operation of its Unit 1 reactor. That's according to Eskom. 

It was on July 21 in 1984, when Unit 1 was completed, the commissioning tests at 100% power, and entered into commercial operation. 

READ: Koeberg Unit 1 given 20 year lifeline

This just days after the National Nuclear Regulator approved a 20-year life extension for Unit 1 of the nuclear power plant. The licence permits the continued operation of Unit 1 until 21 July 2044. 

Former Director for the National Nuclear Regulator, Peter Becker, believes Koeberg isn't very essential to the country's electricity supply.