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Faulty coolant pump delays commissioning of Vogtle 4 nuclear reactor: project cost now over $30Billion

US Georgia Power has reported the discovery of a malfunctioning coolant
pump at unit 4 of its Vogtle NPP, resulting in a delay in commissioning of
the unit. The problem in one of the reactor’s four pumps was found during
pre-operational testing and startup of the unit, which had been expected
begin operation later this year. Instead, the reactor now is forecast to
begin operations in the first quarter of 2024.

Fuel loading at Vogtle 4 began in August. Unit 3 began commercial operation at the end of
July. Vogtle 3&4 are both 1,117 MWe Westinghouse AP1000 pressurised water
reactors (PWRs). The two units were originally expected to cost about $14bn
and to enter service in 2016 and 2017 but suffered a series of delays,
including Westinghouse’s bankruptcy in 2017.

The total cost of the project
to build Vogtle 3&4 is now put at more than $30bn. Georgia Power owns 45.7%
of the project; Oglethorpe Power Corp owns 30%; the Municipal Electric
Authority of Georgia (MEAG) owns 22.7%; and the city of Dalton owns 1.6%.
The units will be operated by Southern Nuclear.

Nuclear Engineering International 11th Oct 2023

https://www.neimagazine.com/news/newsfaulty-coolant-pump-delays-commissioning-of-vogtle-4-11210696 #nuclear #antinuclear #NoNukes #NuclearCosts

October 28, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | business and costs, USA