The US Nuclear Regulatory Commission has authorised Southern Nuclear Operating Company to load nuclear fuel and begin operation at the much-delayed and over budget Vogtle-3 nuclear power plant in Georgia, the first reactor to reach this point in the agency’s combined licence process.

Southern recently informed the NRC that the company completed the inspections, tests, analyses, and acceptance criteria needed to show Vogtle-3, a 1,117 MW AP1000 plant supplied by Westinghouse, can begin safe operations.

“This is the first time we’ve authorised a reactor’s initial startup through our Part 52 licensing process,” said Andrea Veil, director of the NRC’s office of nuclear reactor regulation. “Before authorisation, we independently verified that Vogtle Unit 3 has been properly built and will protect public health and safety when it transitions to operation.