An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts today completed a review of long term operational safety of the Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in South Africa.

The Safety Aspects of Long Term Operation (SALTO) follow-up review mission was requested by the plant’s operator, Eskom. Koeberg Units one and two started commercial operation in 1984 and 1985, respectively. Koeberg’s Unit 1 received a license to continue operating until 2044 in July this year, and Eskom is planning to extend operation of Unit 2 until 2045.

Koeberg Nuclear Power Plant is located approximately 30 kilometers north of Cape Town, South Africa, and provides around 5 per cent of the country’s electricity, playing a vital role in reducing reliance on coal. It is the only commercially operating nuclear power station on the African continent. Koeberg is equipped with two pressurized water reactors with a combined capacity of 1934 MW(e), making it a key component of South Africa’s energy infrastructure.

During the 3 to 6 September mission, the SALTO team’s review focused on aspects essential to the safe Long Term Operation (LTO) of both units. The mission reviewed Koeberg NPP’s response to recommendations and suggestions made during an IAEA SALTO mission in 2022, which built upon an initial IAEA pre-SALTO mission held at the plant in 2019.

“The team observed that the plant is addressing the SALTO team’s suggestions and recommendations from the 2022 review,” said team leader and IAEA Nuclear Safety Officer Bryce Lehman. “Based on its efforts, the plant has made significant improvements in ageing management and resolved most of the issues identified in 2022. The plant is on track to complete the remaining items in a reasonable timeframe.”

The team – comprising two experts from the Czech Republic and Slovenia, and two IAEA staff members – said the plant had:

Updated the LTO programme ensuring that all long-term operation activities are systematically planned, executed on schedule, and aligned with safety and operational standards.
Completed the revalidation of environmental qualification for qualified cables ensuring that nuclear facility cables remain capable of safely performing under specific environmental conditions over time, despite aging or wear.
Completed the revalidation of the Time Limited Ageing Analysis (TLAAs) for concrete structures, including the containment TLAA.

The team noted that the plant needs to continue its work to ensure that:

The plant programmes supporting LTO are fully implemented for the LTO period.
The containment monitoring system is fully refurbished and remains fully functional during the LTO period.

Plant management expressed a determination to maintain the level of preparedness for safe LTO and to further cooperate with the IAEA in this area.

“For us, this is an integral part of the IAEA’s supporting service to ensure safe operation of the Koeberg reactors during the LTO period for the next 20 years. The IAEA SALTO missions, and technical cooperation, helped to improve our continued focus on safe operation,” said Keith Featherstone, Chief Nuclear Officer, Nuclear Operating Unit, Eskom. “Eskom has worked diligently to demonstrate and ensure the safe operation of the Koeberg plant today and into the future and together with the IAEA carried out four review missions and several technical support discussions. We appreciate the IAEA’s support and the independent review against international safety standards. We will continue to collaborate in the future as part of our drive to continuously improve,” he added.

The team provided a draft report to the plant management and to the South African National Nuclear Regulator (NNR) at the end of the mission. They will have an opportunity to make factual comments on the draft. A final report will be submitted to the plant management, the NNR and the South African Government within three months.

Background

General information about SALTO missions can be found on the IAEA Website. A SALTO peer review is a comprehensive safety review addressing strategy and key elements for the safe long term operation of nuclear power plants. They complement OSART missions, which are designed as a review of programmes and activities essential to operational safety. Neither SALTO nor OSART reviews are regulatory inspections, nor are they design reviews or substitutes for an exhaustive assessment of a plant’s overall safety status.

LTO of nuclear power plants is defined as operation beyond an established time frame determined by the license term, the original plant design, relevant standards, or national regulations. As stated in IAEA safety standards, to maintain a plant’s fitness for service, consideration should be given to life limiting processes and features of systems, structures, and components (SSC), as well as to reasonably practicable safety upgrades to enhance the safety of the plant to a level approaching that of modern plants.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The President of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., has sent a message of congratulations to the Government and people of the Federal Republic of Brazil on the occasion commemorating the 202th independence Anniversary of that Country on Saturday, September 7, 2024. The Federal Republic of Brazil gained its Independence on September 7th 1822, from Portugal after a Treaty was signed constituting Brazil’s Independence Day. 

According to a Foreign Ministry release, President Joseph N. Boakai, on behalf of the Government and people of Liberia, and in his own name, said that it gives him immense pleasure to extend heartfelt felicitations and best wishes to President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, the government and people of Brazil on the auspicious occasion of the 202 Independence Anniversary. 

“As you celebrate this milestone, you can be assured of the appreciation of the people of the Republic of Liberia for the historic bonds of cooperation and friendship subsisting between our two countries and peoples, will be increasing enhanced.” President Boakai then prayed that President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva will continue to be endowed with wisdom, good health and happiness, as he leads the people of Brazil to a prosperous future. 

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Liberia.

With the onset of the rainy season, severe flooding across Cameroon, Chad, Mali, Niger and Nigeria has significantly worsened the situation of refugees and internally displaced people (IDPs) in the region. UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, emphasizes the importance of including forcibly displaced people in national response plans. 

The floods have devastated communities, destroyed homes and infrastructure and heightened protection risks for the most vulnerable, severely affecting forcibly displaced populations who were already living in precarious conditions. Many are now sheltering in overcrowded and makeshift locations with limited access to essential services. Considering the effects of climate change, worsening food insecurity, and the increased risk of waterborne diseases it is vital to ensure that the needs of refugees and internally displaced people are not overlooked. 

In Nigeria, severe floods have swept through 29 of 36 states, affecting over 600,000 people. At least 200 people have died and over 225,000 have been displaced, including many who had already been uprooted by conflict and climate change. The destruction of over 115,000 hectares of farmland could worsen the food insecurity situation at a time when 32 million people in the country are already facing acute hunger.

UNHCR and its partners are distributing 10,000 tarpaulin sheets to the most severely impacted displaced people in some of the hardest-hit states. Unfortunately, funding shortages are making it difficult to assist additional communities in need. The rainy season in Nigeria is expected to continue until September in the north, and November in the south. 

All 23 provinces of Chad have been impacted by flooding since July. According to the Chadian authorities and partners, more than 964,000 people (166,000 households) were affected by the floods as of 25 August. Refugee communities in eastern Chad are particularly vulnerable, with more than 40,000 refugees affected. So far, 145 people have died, over 251,000 hectares of land have been submerged, more than 70,000 houses destroyed, and 29,000 heads of livestock have perished. 

In Cameroon, between 11 and 21 August, torrential rains destroyed more than 8,600 homes, flooded thousands of hectares of farmland and crops, and caused the loss of thousands of animals. Almost 19,000 households, some 159,000 people, were affected, including almost 50,000 refugees. Local authorities and humanitarian partners are putting in place emergency response plans but face major logistical challenges including access difficulties and the growing risk of epidemics. 

In Niger, severe flooding triggered by heavy rains has caused widespread destruction, particularly in the Maradi, Dosso, Tillabery and Zinder regions, which are also home to significant numbers of displaced people. Since the onset of the rains in July, over 217 people have died, and more than 700,000 have been affected. The floods have devastated infrastructure, including roads and farmland and disrupted the education of over 39,000 children. Access to areas where refugees are settled has been compromised, prompting the army to evaluate alternative routes for relief efforts. UNHCR has mobilized resources to support those affected by providing 3,000 essential relief kits, with 317 already distributed in Zinder. Additional aid deliveries have been made in Tahoua, and further distributions are planned for Ouallam and Ayorou.  

Displaced families, including refugees and IDPs, are facing a catastrophic situation due to the compounding effects of conflict, climate change, and now devastating floods. They need emergency shelter, food, water and medical care immediately.  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

As a new school year begins for millions of children worldwide, across crisis-affected contexts there are 72 million children out of school and another 127 million in school but unable to learn key skills. The IRC reiterates its call for proven and scalable solutions focused on education and early childhood development as a core part of humanitarian response plans worldwide. 

Education has long been chronically underfunded throughout the humanitarian sector, with as little as 2.5% of humanitarian funding going to education programs. These barriers persist even with IRC and others’ research showing that funding for education in emergencies is both a necessary and wise investment, with each $1 invested in education yielding as much as $13 in economic growth. 

The IRC and partners continue to deliver much-needed education and early childhood development programs around the world to reach the last mile in crisis settings, including by incorporating artificial intelligence and other technologies. Examples of these programs include: 

Education Technology with OpenAI: the IRC is developing aprendIA, an AI-driven educational chatbot platform that delivers personalized learning experiences that crisis-affected communities can access—in particular, teachers and parents. By integrating with OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the IRC will be able to rapidly create content, support overstretched teachers and personalize digital education experiences for improved learning outcomes and teacher empowerment, while researching the effectiveness of AI in education in safe and ethical ways. 
Climate Resilient Education Systems Trial (CREST): with UK government support CREST harnesses AI-enabled predictive technology and innovative climate finance to ensure children and communities in northern Kenya are protected from the effects of climate-related school closures and can continue to learn and return to school safely after climate disasters strike. 
Ahlan Simsim:  With support from the MacArthur Foundation and LEGO Foundation, the Ahlan Simsim initiative is the single largest early childhood intervention in the history of humanitarian response. In 6 years, it has reached over 3.5M children and caregivers across Jordan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria, and is expanding support in Libya, Yemen, and Palestine. Ahlan Simsim combines the power of Sesame Workshop’s proven educational media with IRC’s expertise working with conflict- and crisis-affected communities to deliver innovative programs backed by research. These programs are implemented by the IRC and local partners including civil society and government actors. 
Education Research in Conflict and Protracted Crises (ERICC) Research Programme Consortium: with the need for more sustainable and coherent education systems in conflict and protracted crisis settings, this UK-funded multi-year research program identifies the most effective approaches for improving access, quality, and continuity of education, and ultimately to improve holistic outcomes for children. Countries of focus include Bangladesh, Jordan, Lebanon, Myanmar, Nigeria, South Sudan and Syria.
TeachWell: supported by the LEGO Foundation and the Grundfos Foundation, this innovative teacher professional development program works with refugee and host community teachers in Kenya. TeachWell uses ‘learning through play’ pedagogy to support the implementation of Kenya’s new Competence Based Curriculum by fostering essential skills such as critical thinking and problem-solving, which are vital in promoting holistic learning among children.
Kulea Watoto – meaning ‘nurturing children’ in Swahili – is a Conrad N. Hilton Foundation supported program in Uganda which uses a two-generation approach to reach children under five years of age with early childhood development and their caregivers with economic development to deliver improved outcomes for families. 
PlayMatters: this program, made possible with support from the LEGO Foundation, strengthens existing education systems to train and support teachers operating across the humanitarian-development nexus to use an active teaching and learning approach through play to reach 800,000 refugee and host community children across Ethiopia, Tanzania and Uganda, to develop holistic skills, well-being, and a love of learning to enable them to lead healthy, fulfilling lives.

Emma Gremley, IRC’s Senior Director for Education, said: 

“All too often children bear the brunt of conflict and crises, their education derailed and their chances of a safe and productive future jeopardized. If these children are to heal, recover and get back on track to lead healthy, fulfilling and meaningful lives, their academic, social-emotional and supportive care needs must be addressed.  

“This work will not look the same in every context. The particular needs of children and their caregivers and the best ways to reach them will vary depending on where they are and what they have experienced. But every single child has the right to learn and grow in safety. At the IRC, we are doing our part to safeguard and advance that right in ways that will strengthen the wider humanitarian sector’s approach. We call on the humanitarian and education communities to commit the time and resources needed to support the most vulnerable in crises settings: children and families.”  

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of International Rescue Committee (IRC) .