Investigation by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission into another delay at the Vogtle plant | State news

A new inspection of the nuclear expansion at the Vogtle plant, which the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) announced this week, could postpone the completion of the long-delayed project.

Donald Grace of Critical Technologies Construction, who is acting as the independent monitor on the project, testified Thursday that the NRC investigation represents “an increased level of oversight” over the addition of two nuclear reactors at the facility south of Augusta.

“The fact that the NRC is getting involved now … adds to the uncertainty about how long it will take to get to the fuel load,” Grace told members of the Georgia Public Service Commission (PSC) during a hearing.

The main contractor Southern Nuclear Operating Co. started the hot function test of Unit 3, the first of two new reactors to be built at the Vogtle plant, in April. The tests are carried out to ensure that the reactor is ready for fuel loading, one of the final steps before the plant can go into commercial operation.

However, fuel loading has been suspended pending the outcome of the NRC inspection, which focuses on the electrical wiring systems required to ensure that safety-related equipment is powered to function properly.

William Jacobs of GDS Associates, another independent monitor, said the contractor had found more than 600 cases of cable disconnection across the facility that needed to be corrected.

“This is a big deal,” he said. “It reflects … the quality assurance, the existing quality control processes.”

Jacobs said Unit 3’s hot functional tests were delayed by a 60 percent failure rate of the components required to run the test.

The NRC inspection is only the latest in a series of delays that have plagued nuclear expansion since the project was approved by the PSC 12 years ago. A major factor that delayed the work was the bankruptcy of Westinghouse Electric, the original prime contractor on the project.

Georgia Power Co. and three utility partners who signed the project originally expected the Unit 3 reactor to be completed in 2016, followed by the second reactor, Unit 4, a year later.

According to the latest estimates, Unit 3 will go into commercial operation in the first quarter of next year at the earliest, followed by Unit 4 by the end of 2022.

The delays have raised the price of the project to nearly double its original estimate of $ 14 billion.

On Thursday, Jacobs attributed much of the project’s structural defects to a rushed schedule. For example, the contractor committed to complete the hot functionality test, a process that typically takes six months in less than four months.

“They prioritized production over quality,” said Jacobs. “They have their production goals and want to achieve them.”

Thursday’s hearing was part of a project status review that the PSC conducts every six months. As part of this, Georgia Power is asking the commission to review and approve $ 670 million for the project’s expenses incurred in the latter half of last year.

Despite their criticism of the project, the independent observers recommended that the PSK approve the expenditure.

Steven Hewitson, an attorney representing Georgia Power, noted this recommendation in his cross-examination of observers.

Hewitson acknowledged that the problem of cable separation was a design flaw, but said that with such a complex project, mistakes are inevitable.

“On a project of this size, nobody would expect construction to be 100% completed without errors,” he said.

The NRC inspection should only last two weeks.

However, Steven Roetger, a member of the PSC’s advocacy team, said the investigation could be broadened depending on the findings of the inspectors.

The inspection team will publish its findings and conclusions in a report to be issued within 45 days of the end of the inspection.