New schedule depends on pre-operational testing and startup
The in-service date for the Vogtle-4 nuclear power plant under construction in the US state of Georgia is being pushed back to 2024 due to a motor fault in one of four reactor coolant pumps, Georgia Power said in a filing to the Securities and Exchange Commission.
The 6 October filing noted that Southern Nuclear has started the process of replacing the faulty reactor coolant pump (RCP) with an onsite spare one from inventory.
The new in-service timeframe is projected for the first quarter of 2024. Commercial operation had been scheduled for early 2024, so the new schedule potentially represents only a short delay.
The filing said since Unit 3’s four RCPs operated as designed, Southern Nuclear believes that the motor fault in this case is an isolated event.
Vogtle-4 is the second Westinghouse AP1000 at the site. Vogtle-3 began commercial operation on 31 July 2023.
Utility officials said the projected schedule for Unit 4 primarily depends on the “continued progression of pre-operational testing and startup, which may be impacted by further equipment, component, and/or other operational challenges”.
They added future challenges could also include management of contractors and related cost increases.
Further updates will be provided in connection with Southern Company’s earnings call in November 2023.
Vogtle-3 and -4 are the first nuclear units to be built in the US in more than three decades, but have seen cost overruns and delays.
The $14bn (€12.6bn) original cost of Vogtle-3 and -4 has risen to more than $30bn. The cost for Georgia Power, with a 45% share of the project, will be about $15bn.
