The outer steel dome of the nuclear island containment building has been lifted into place at the Lufeng-5 nuclear power station in Guangdong province, southern China, the China Nuclear Energy Association (CNEA) reported.

The dome forms part of the reactor’s containment building, which consists of an inner steel shell and an outer concrete shell. The containment is designed to protect the reactor from external effects and withstand high external and internal pressures and protect against radiation release.

CNEA said the outer steel dome measures about 45 metres in diameter, 13 metres in height and weighs almost 262 tonnes.