The core catcher has been installed at Unit 2 of the Akkuyu nuclear power station under construction in southwest Turkey, according to project owner Akkuyu Nuclear JSC.

The core catcher – also known as a core melt localisation device or core trap – is designed to catch the molten core material, or corium, of a nuclear reactor in the event of a nuclear meltdown and to prevent it from escaping the containment.

Akkuyu Nuclear said in a statement that installation of the 169-tonne component, with a diameter of about six metres, was completed on schedule.