Eskom's Major Nuclear Generator Replacement Program Seeks Suppliers

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Written by Richard Finlayson, Senior International Editor for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--The winter power supply to South Africa's homes and industry has so far been managed successfully by Eskom, the national power utility. All six steam generators are scheduled to be replaced at South Africa's 1,800-megawatt (MW) Koeberg nuclear power station in the Western Cape during 2016 and 2017.

That schedule would seem far enough in the future not to threaten the fragile margins of power reserves in the national system. By 2016, mega-thermal projects and new renewable power sources should be feeding into the grid. The generator sets that are now running at Koeberg have been in operation since 1983-84 and 1984-85.

The Koeberg replacement project, which is estimated to be a nine-figure dollar investment, is part of the maintenance and refurbishment plans for the country's sole nuclear power station. Eskom has issued an expression of interest tender in order to identify suppliers with the capacity to design, manufacture and install sets of three steam generators in the power station's two units.

The supplier also will be responsible for any safety analysis and studies involved in the replacement of the generators. The installation of the new generators is planned for a period of scheduled refueling, inspection and maintenance outages of Koeberg's units. The specific dates of the outages are still open to the requirements of Koeberg and the national power supply system and to the commercial negotiations with selected suppliers, Eskom said.

The deadline for expressions of interest is August 3, and Eskom is looking to issue design and manufacture tenders in August and award the project contract in early 2013, dependent on contract negotiations.

The total cost of the project will depend on the commercial process now ongoing, according to Eskom, which will host a workshop during the tender process to facilitate the interaction of local companies interested in entering the nuclear sector and potential Eskom supplier who meet the project's criteria. Efforts will be made to facilitate localization and skills transfer and allow suppliers to understand the scope of the replacement project.

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