ATLANTA, March 27, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- The final
major lifts inside the containment vessels for Georgia Power's
Vogtle 3 & 4 project are now complete following the placement
of the Unit 4 containment vessel top head earlier today.
The containment vessel is a high-integrity steel structure that
houses critical plant components. The top head is 130 feet in
diameter, 37 feet tall, and weighs nearly 1.5 million pounds, more
than two fully-loaded jumbo jets. It's comprised of 58 large
plates, welded together, each more than an inch and a half
thick.
The milestone comes approximately a year after the Unit 3
containment vessel top was lifted into place.
"Placement of the Unit 4 top head is a culmination of the hard
work and dedication of the Vogtle 3 & 4 team as we continue on
the path to operation," said Vogtle 3 & 4 Construction
Executive Vice President Glen
Chick.
Prior to lifting the containment vessel top head, workers
successfully completed the placement of the 300-ton polar crane
inside the Unit 4 containment vessel. Once the unit is in
operation, the polar crane will be used during refueling outages to
disassemble the reactor vessel and remove the reactor vessel's
integrated head package, which weighs approximately 475,000 pounds
and contains more than three miles of specialty electrical
cables.
The crane has been turned over to the project's Initial Test
Program, and the team will run the crane through various tests over
the course of the next month to help ensure design requirements
have been met and that all crane functions are operational. After
testing, the crane will be used to assist in construction
activities to place components inside the reactor vessel.
Vogtle 3 & 4 is currently the largest jobs-producing
construction project in the state of Georgia, with more than 9,000 workers
currently on site, and more than 800 permanent jobs available once
the units begin operating.
Significant progress continues to be made at the construction
site, with the project now approximately 84% complete.
Follow the progress being made at the site with the Plant Vogtle
3 and 4 Online Photo Gallery and Georgia Power YouTube
channel.
About Georgia Power
Georgia Power is the largest
electric subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), America's
premier energy company. Value, Reliability, Customer Service and
Stewardship are the cornerstones of the company's promise to 2.6
million customers in all but four of Georgia's 159 counties. Committed to
delivering clean, safe, reliable and affordable energy at rates
below the national average, Georgia Power maintains a diverse,
innovative generation mix that includes nuclear, coal and natural
gas, as well as renewables such as solar, hydroelectric and wind.
Georgia Power focuses on delivering world-class service to its
customers every day and the company is consistently recognized by
J.D. Power and Associates as an industry leader in customer
satisfaction. For more information, visit
www.GeorgiaPower.com and connect with the company on Facebook
(Facebook.com/GeorgiaPower), Twitter (Twitter.com/GeorgiaPower) and
Instagram (Instagram.com/ga_power).
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information contained in this release is forward-looking
information based on current expectations and plans that involve
risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes,
among other things, statements concerning the expected schedule for
construction of Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 and job creation.
Georgia Power cautions that there are certain factors that can
cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking
information that has been provided. The reader is cautioned not to
put undue reliance on this forward-looking information, which is
not a guarantee of future performance and is subject to a number of
uncertainties and other factors, many of which are outside the
control of Georgia Power; accordingly, there can be no assurance
that such suggested results will be realized. The following
factors, in addition to those discussed in Georgia Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K for
the year ended December 31, 2019 and
subsequent securities filings, could cause actual results to differ
materially from management expectations as suggested by such
forward-looking information: the potential effects of the continued
outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), including disruptions
to supply chains, reduced labor availability or productivity, and
reduced economic activity, which could have a variety of adverse
impacts, including reduced demand for energy and a negative impact
on the ability to develop, construct, and operate facilities; the
ability to control costs and avoid cost and schedule overruns
during the development, construction, and operation of facilities
or other projects, including Plant Vogtle Units 3 and 4, which
includes components based on new technology that only within the
last few years began initial operation in the global nuclear
industry at this scale, and including changes in labor costs,
availability and productivity; challenges with management of
contractors or vendors; subcontractor performance; adverse weather
conditions; shortages, delays, increased costs, or inconsistent
quality of equipment, materials, and labor; contractor or supplier
delay; delays due to judicial or regulatory action; nonperformance
under construction, operating, or other agreements; operational
readiness, including specialized operator training and required
site safety programs; engineering or design problems; design and
other licensing-based compliance matters, including, for nuclear
units, the timely submittal by Southern Nuclear of the Inspections,
Tests, Analyses, and Acceptance Criteria documentation for each
unit and the related reviews and approvals by the U.S. Nuclear
Regulatory Commission ("NRC") necessary to support NRC
authorization to load fuel; challenges with start-up activities,
including major equipment failure, system integration or regional
transmission upgrades; and/or operational performance; the ability
to overcome or mitigate the current challenges at Plant Vogtle
Units 3 and 4 that could impact the cost and schedule for the
project; legal proceedings and regulatory approvals and actions
related to construction projects, such as Plant Vogtle Units 3 and
4 and pipeline projects, including Public Service Commission
approvals and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and NRC actions;
under certain specified circumstances, a decision by holders of
more than 10% of the ownership interests of Plant Vogtle Units 3
and 4 not to proceed with construction and the ability of other
Vogtle owners to tender a portion of their ownership interests to
Georgia Power following certain construction cost increases; the
ability to construct facilities in accordance with the requirements
of permits and licenses (including satisfaction of NRC
requirements), to satisfy any environmental performance standards
and the requirements of tax credits and other incentives, and to
integrate facilities into the Southern Company system upon
completion of construction; the inherent risks involved in
operating and constructing nuclear generating facilities; the
ability of counterparties of Georgia Power to make payments as and
when due and to perform as required; the direct or indirect effect
on Georgia Power's business resulting from cyber intrusion or
physical attack and the threat of physical attacks; catastrophic
events such as fires, earthquakes, explosions, floods, tornadoes,
hurricanes and other storms, droughts, pandemic health events or
other similar occurrences; and the direct or indirect effects on
Georgia Power's business resulting from incidents affecting the
U.S. electric grid, natural gas pipeline infrastructure, or
operation of generating or storage resources. Georgia Power
expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward‐looking
information.
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SOURCE Georgia Power