A gigantic lid was hoisted onto a structure Friday that will house the United Kingdom’s first new nuclear reactor to be constructed in over three decades.
The delicate operation required hundreds of workers. The reactor can now be installed under the lid next year before coming online in 2027. The team says it had to wait for perfect wind conditions before setting the 245-tonne dome into place.
“This is a major milestone in building Britain’s first nuclear reactor in a generation, and a key part of the U.K. Government’s plans to revitalize nuclear,” Andrew Bowie, U.K. parliament member and nuclear minister, said. He added that the future power station would be capable of sustaining six million homes.
The world’s largest land-based crane helped complete the installation, which took just over an hour. The Hinkley Point C site in Somerset employs approximately 10,000 people and 3,500 different companies. The site’s construction received approval in 2013 and it has cost about C$48.25 billion to date, making it the world’s most expensive power plant.
The French state-owned company responsible for the construction site, EDF (Électricité de France), currently owns and operates all five nuclear stations operating in the U.K. No new power units have been brought online in the country since 1995. The last was the Sizewell B reactor, construction of which started in 1988.
Today, Big Carl 🏗️ has lifted the dome at @hinkleypointc into place.
Measuring 47m in diameter, it's wider than the St Paul’s Cathedral dome & marks a major milestone in the UK's nuclear revival being our first new nuclear power station in over 30 years.
Check it out 👇 pic.twitter.com/cYQQlYm17q
— Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (@energygovuk) December 15, 2023
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Massive reactor one of many under construction
There are currently about 60 nuclear reactors under construction throughout the world in 17 different countries. China is the number one contributor with 25 currently being built.
There are several different varieties as well. Canada aims to bring its first small modular reactor online in 2029. Japan and the European Union have been experimenting with a nuclear fusion reactor too, and the list goes on.
Some companies like the French startup Naarea have even been developing “micro” reactors powered by spent nuclear fuel. The company aims to promote recycling and sustainability in the industry through its development.
A cohort of nations just agreed to triple their nuclear capacity at the COP28 climate change conference in Dubai as well. The demand for nuclear power has inherently prompted an accelerated demand for uranium, which is becoming increasingly expensive.
Kazakhstan, Canada and Namibia are the the world’s top producers of uranium, respectively.
In 2022, Kazakhstan produced 43 per cent of the world’s uranium. The country’s Kazatomprom (FRA: 0ZQ) is the world’s top producing company.
Canada’s Athabasca Basin, a largely under-explored uranium-rich region, has been attracting an increased level of interest from companies looking to capitalize on the demand for the metal too. ATHA Energy Corp. (CSE: SASK) (FRA: X5U) (OTCQB: SASKF) is an emerging player that holds the largest land package in the region and was specifically created for that purpose.
The Husab operation run by Namibia’s Swakop Uranium and the Rössing mine operated by the China National Uranium Corporation are the African nation’s top uranium assets.
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rowan@mugglehead.com
