Koeberg outages raise fresh questions as eMalahleni’s Eskom debt hits R13.6 billion

South Africa’s electricity supply and municipal debt management are under renewed scrutiny, with Koeberg Nuclear Power Station facing operational challenges and eMalahleni Local Municipality emerging as Eskom’s biggest municipal debtor.

It follows weekend reports of further operational concerns at Koeberg Nuclear Power Station and revelations that eMalahleni Municipality owes Eskom R13.6 billion in overdue electricity debt.

The two developments highlight the challenges facing the country’s power sector, from maintaining reliable generation at critical infrastructure to collecting payments from municipalities responsible for supplying electricity to communities.

Koeberg operational status under scrutiny

Koeberg Nuclear Power Station, South Africa’s only nuclear power station, has faced operational challenges in recent months, including a turbine trip affecting Unit 1 and a prolonged maintenance outage at Unit 2.

Eskom confirmed in August that Unit 1 had been taken offline following a turbine trip. The utility said the shutdown was carried out safely, that plant monitoring showed stable operating conditions and that nuclear safety had not been compromised.

The incident followed earlier disruptions linked to seawater intake challenges at the station’s cooling system.

In a media report published on 9 October, SABC News quoted Koeberg chief nuclear officer Velaphi Ntuli as saying Unit 2 remained in a planned maintenance outage, with the utility expecting the outage to be completed in November.

Unit 1, meanwhile, was operating, according to the report.

However, reports of additional units going offline over the weekend of 10 and 11 October require further confirmation from Eskom before the extent and impact of any new outages can be established.

The operational status of both units is important because Koeberg provides a substantial source of reliable electricity to the national grid.

Eskom has previously maintained that the August turbine trip did not threaten national electricity supply, citing available generation capacity and grid stability.

eMalahleni owes Eskom R13.6 billion

In a separate development, eMalahleni Local Municipality in Mpumalanga has been identified as Eskom’s largest municipal debtor, with overdue electricity debt of R13.6 billion as at 31 August 2026.

The figure was disclosed by Electricity and Energy Minister Kgosientsho Ramokgopa in response to a parliamentary question.

The municipality, which includes the city formerly known as Witbank, is situated in the heart of South Africa’s coal-mining and power-generation region. Several major Eskom power stations, including Kusile, Kendal, Duvha, Kriel and Matla, are located within its municipal boundaries.

Despite its importance to the country’s electricity industry, the municipality’s outstanding debt places it at the centre of Eskom’s growing concerns about municipal non-payment.

Ramokgopa has warned that municipal debt is one of the greatest threats to Eskom’s financial sustainability and a significant obstacle to the restructuring of its distribution business.

Eskom has various mechanisms available to recover outstanding municipal debt, including processes provided for under the Intergovernmental Relations Framework Act and the National Treasury’s Municipal Debt Relief Programme.

The scale of eMalahleni’s arrears raises questions about the municipality’s payment arrangements, its collection of revenue from electricity customers and the measures being taken to bring its account up to date.

Pressure on the electricity sector

The Koeberg developments and eMalahleni’s outstanding debt illustrate two distinct pressures on South Africa’s electricity system: the need to maintain dependable generation capacity and the need to ensure that electricity supplied through municipal networks is paid for.

While Eskom has said the previously reported Koeberg incident did not compromise nuclear safety or threaten national supply, confirmation of the latest reported weekend developments remains important.

Similarly, the R13.6 billion debt figure underscores the financial consequences of prolonged municipal arrears for the power utility.

Further clarification from Eskom and the relevant authorities on Koeberg’s current operating status, alongside details of eMalahleni’s repayment commitments, will be important in determining the next steps in both matters.

Sources: Newsday & MyBroadband.