Source: AFP
The UK’s planned Hinkley Point C nuclear power station reached a major milestone on Friday, with the installation of a steel dome to cover its first reactor building, operator EDF said.
The world’s largest crane, nicknamed “Big Carl”, installed the giant circular roof, which has a circumference of more than 47 meters (154 feet), is 14 meters high and weighs 245 tonnes, according to the British subsidiary of the French energy company colossus.
However, weather conditions allowed the delicate maneuver to be carried out and the job was completed in an hour and a half.
The metal cover now covers a 44m tall cylindrical concrete tower that will house the first of the plant’s two reactors, due to be installed next year.
“This is a major milestone for the construction of Britain’s first nuclear reactor in a generation and a key part of the UK government’s plans to revitalize nuclear,” nuclear minister Andrew Bowie said in an EDF press release.
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“By generating enough zero-carbon energy for six million homes, Hinkley Point C will reduce our dependence on imported energy and support our shift to net zero,” he added.
EDF is also responsible for building the new Sizewell C plant in south-east England, with each site generating 3.2 gigawatts of power.
Delays, balloon costs
The dome over Hinkley’s first reactor was originally scheduled to be installed by the end of 2022, but the site has suffered several delays.
The expected cost, borne largely by EDF, has already risen to £25-26 billion ($32-33 billion) — or £32.7 billion adjusted for inflation, almost double the initial estimate of 18 billion pounds.
EDF is now aiming to have the first reactor operational in June 2027, with the second one a year later.
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![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/4a1eec94fc68c790.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
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The UK currently has nine nuclear reactors at five sites operated by EDF, but many are nearing the end of their lives.
Six reactors at three sites have been shut down since 2021 and will be decommissioned.
However, EDF announced in March that it was extending the lives of two UK power stations — Heysham 1 and Hartlepool.
The UK plans to build up to eight new reactors by 2050.
Source: AFP