Georgia Power announced today the completion of another major milestone in the construction of Plant Vogtle units 3 and 4 – the placement of the CA-04 module in the Unit 3 nuclear island. The module, also known as the reactor vessel cavity, will house the Unit 3 reactor vessel and is a critical module for the project. It is comprised of five sub-modules, weighing approximately 64,000 pounds, and is 27 feet tall and 21 feet wide. It was lifted into place using a 560-foot tall heavy lift derrick, one of the largest cranes in the world.

The placement of this component is the latest illustration of the continued progress of the construction of the two new nuclear units at Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Ga. The new units, using state-of-the-art AP1000 technology, are among the first nuclear units being built in the United States in 30 years.

In November, the project marked another significant milestone with the placement of the basemat structural concrete for the Unit 4 nuclear island. The concrete placement, which encompassed approximately 7,000 cubic yards of concrete, will serve as the foundation for all of the Unit 4 nuclear island structures.

The Vogtle 3 and 4 project is part of Georgia Power's long-term, strategic vision for providing safe, clean, reliable and affordable energy for Georgians for decades to come.  It is the largest job-producing project in the state, employing approximately 5,000 people during peak construction and creating 800 permanent jobs when the plant begins operating. Over the life of the units, the project will provide $4 billion more in economic value than the next best available option. Once complete, the new facility will produce enough electricity to power 500,000 Georgia homes and businesses. The addition of the new units will also make Plant Vogtle the only four-unit nuclear facility in the country.

Southern Nuclear, a subsidiary of Southern Company, is overseeing construction and will operate the two new 1,100-megawatt AP1000 units for Georgia Power and co-owners Oglethorpe Power Corporation, the Municipal Electric Authority of Georgia and Dalton Utilities. Georgia Power owns 45.7 percent of the new units.