NRC strengthens testing of Georgia Power’s Vogtle nuclear power plant

The aim of the first new reactor is to investigate “what led to structural renovation work for the electrical cable route system”. The system is “designed to prevent a single event from disabling redundant safety-related equipment”.

The review will look at the actions Southern Nuclear took after issues were identified, the quality assurance process and “potential impact” for a second reactor under construction, the NRC said. The review is expected to take two weeks and a public report within 45 days of completion.

A Georgia Power spokesman emailed: “Southern Nuclear welcomes the inspection of its construction activities by NRC and will participate in the NRC inspection process.”

The spokesman reiterated the recently announced project schedules, including the commissioning of the first new reactor in the first three months of next year rather than next November. Advisors to Georgian regulators have predicted the unit will be operational by at least the summer of 2022, a conclusion that was drawn ahead of the NRC’s new inspection.

In March, Atlanta-based Southern Company announced that it had begun corrective action and a broader review related to the quality of the project south of Augusta.

Georgia regulatory officials and independent observers have highlighted numerous current issues related to Vogtle’s work, including violations of regulations that require minimal separation of high voltage cables to eliminate the risk of a fire developing.

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