South Carolina Electric & Gas (SE&G) said that it had reached a significant construction milestones at the V.C. Summer Unit 3 build, having placed the first containment vessel ring in place for the new reactor.
The lift and placement made use of one of the largest cranes in the world. The ring was placed on top of the Unit 3 containment vessel bottom head.
The structural components of the vessel will be complete with two more rings set in place and the containment vessel top head placed on top of those. All containment vessel rings are fabricated with multiple levels of steel plates. The structure, when complete, will weigh about 4,000 tons and stand more than 200 feet high with a 130 foot diameter.
SCE&G and co-owner Santee Cooper are building two 1,117-megawatt Westinghouse AP1000 reactors at the site in Fairfield County, S.C. The project currently employs approximately 3,700 Westinghouse personnel and subcontracted workers.