[DEBATE] : Earthlife Africa unsatisfied with findings of Koeberg bolt investigation

[Bryan Ashe]

Earthlife Africa Cape Town is unsatisfied with Alec Erwin's announcement
today of the findings of investigations into the "bolt in the generator
incident" at Koeberg Nuclear power station. Erwin was at pains to remind the
public that he did not allege sabotage to be the cause of the incident in
announcements on the eve of the March 1 local government elections. Also
stressed by Erwin and other members of parliament was the finding that the
problem was located outside of the nuclear part of the power station. The
investigation concludes that the bolt came to be where it was through human
error. Ultimately and in Earthlife Africa's view, none of these facts serve
as reassurance about the safety of operations at Koeberg power station.
Sabotage or not, the bolt was found where it should not have been and where
it did significant damage resulting in a series of blackouts which cost the
Western Cape millions of rands and caused environmental damage. As to the
location of the bolt; if safety and operating procedures can become so
perverted as to allow such a failure (not once but many times as is
indicated by NERSA's recent reports into other failures at Eskom), what are
the assurances that similar failures cannot take place within the nuclear
section of the station?

Maya Aberman
Campaign Co-ordinator
Earthlife Africa
021 447 4912
076 754 6327


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