Koeberg power station

How to get there

Welcome to the wonderful world of nuclear energy

Picture by Bjorn Rudner

When you switch on your television or log on to your computer or light up the living room, do you ever stop to think that some of that electricity comes from a nuclear power plant? Well try this: nuclear energy currently provides 16 percent of the world�s electricity and through the Koeberg Nuclear Power Station near Cape Town, it powers most of the Western Cape and supplies approximately 6 percent of South Africa�s total electricity needs. Koeberg in fact plays a vital role in ensuring a reliable supply of electricity to the Western Cape, one of the fastest growing regions in the country. Koeberg has been generating electricity for the past 24 years (1984 -2008). Work began shortly after the contract with the French consortium was signed in 1976. In 1984 Koeberg started their commercial operation Koeberg is located 30 km north of Cape Town because:

�The economic and industrial development of the surrounding area caused an increased demand for electricity;

The Duynefontein area is geologically stable
The cold water of the Atlantic Ocean is ideal for cooling
Eskom�s national grid is easily accessible;
Koeberg is responsible for the electricity supply of the Western Cape, making it less dependent on Mpumalanga Power stations 1 500 km away

What does Koeberg visitors centre offer?

Auditorium facilities:

A well equipped auditorium where skilled and experienced staff members introduce visitors to Eskom, the Generation Division and Koeberg Nuclear Power Station by means of video�s and informative presentation.

Models and displays:


Display area	Display



Scale model of Koeberg power station	School group visiting

The visitors centre comprises of a visual exhibition area, which hosts a number of interactive models and displays

Outdoor classroom:

Koeberg�s outdoor education programme, which forms part of Koeberg�s Nature Reserve, encourages visitors to hike through the reserve. The Dikkop Trail (9.5 �23.3km), Grysbok Trail (2.5 �5.7 km) and Mountain Bike Trail (19km) will lead the visitor through the two naturally occurring veld types in the area sandveld and strandveld. There are beaches and dunes to enjoy and the outdoor enthusiasts will have a first-hand glimpse of the plant and animal life on the Reserve.

Note: Guided hikes are available by prior arrangement and can be done in conjunction with a visit to the Koeberg visitors centre.

So why nuclear power?

In South Africa, Eskom has calculated that between 2005 and 2010, our need for electricity will be greater than what our power stations can currently produce. Nuclear energy which generates relatively small amounts of waste and no carbon emissions or �greenhouse gasses� that may damage the environment has the potential to more than meet this need.