Nuclear power is considered to be one of the most reliable, powerful forms of energy, but when a disaster hits, it can also be catastrophic to the very communities it powers.
Japan rushed to contain a crisis at two nuclear power plants after a massive earthquake and tsunami struck the island on March 12. The government declared a state of emergency after an earthquake hitting 8.9 on the Richter scale with a subsequent tsunami forcing immediate action to stop nuclear fuel rods and one of the plants from melting. Officials said that the radioactive pressure was successfully relieved by opening the valves and allowing the release of the radioactive steam although two others still remain in danger.
The Asian island has a great deal of experience in nuclear power, but what would happen to those with less experience operating nuclear power plants should a disaster occur? South Africa has two nuclear reactors (Koeberg 1 and Koeberg 2) generating 5% of its electricity, with the first commercial nuclear power reactor coming online in 1984.
The Koeberg Power Station is the only nuclear power station on the African continent, situated 30 km northwest of Cape Town. Cape Town alone has about 3.5 million residents, and for over a year now, it has been predicted that Cape Town will suffer from a major earthquake. That being said, natural disasters cannot be predicted, but 8 km offshore the Koeberg plant is the Milnerton Fault. Scientists believe that this fault is due for another earthquake, with the last major earthquake (6.5 on the Richter scale) taking place in December 1809.
The state-owned utility Eskom built the Koeberg station to withstand earthquakes, but then again, Japan probably thought the same. However, the utility released a draft that said a serious earthquake affecting Koeberg is “improbable” while being hit by a tsunami is “possible.” So while Eskom appears confident that its nuclear power plant can withstand an earthquake, what preparations have been made to contain a crisis when a possible tsunami hits – most often following an earthquake?
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