Bechtel, a global leader in engineering, procurement, construction, and project management, today announced the company has been selected by Georgia Power to complete construction of the two-reactor expansion of a nuclear power plant near Augusta, Georgia. Plant Vogtle Units 3 & 4 will be the first new units built in the U.S. in the last three decades and are currently the only new units being constructed in the country.
“This is a critically important project for the nation and we’re honored to be chosen,” said Barbara Rusinko, president of Bechtel’s government services and commercial nuclear power business. “We are committed to the long-term future of nuclear power as a safe and reliable, 24/7 provider of carbon-free electricity.”
Bechtel will assume responsibility for a broad range of activities including day-to-day construction through completion of the project under the management of Southern Nuclear, the Southern Company subsidiary which operates the existing two units at Plant Vogtle.
“We look forward to moving ahead with the great relationships we’ve built with plant leadership and the skilled tradespeople at the site,” said Ty Troutman, Bechtel’s project manager and a 30-plus year nuclear industry veteran. “We’ve accomplished a lot already and we have a plan in place to deliver.”
The new reactors will be the first in the industry to use the Westinghouse AP1000 advanced pressurized water reactor technology. This advanced technology allows nuclear cores to be cooled even in the absence of operator interventions or mechanical assistance. The AP1000 is the first Generation III+ reactor to receive Design Certification from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
A nuclear industry leader for 60+ years
“Bechtel has been a leader in nuclear services across the facility lifecycle,” said Troutman. Since the 1950’s Bechtel has performed services on more than 150 nuclear power plants around the world including Watts Bar Unit 2 in Tennessee, the last reactor to start up in the U.S. and the first to come online in the 21st century. Bechtel is working with joint venture partners to complete front-end engineering and design for a new nuclear plant in Wales, United Kingdom and is actively engaging the advanced reactor community as newer technologies emerge. And, Bechtel led efforts to complete the design and federal license application for Yucca Mountain, a repository for used fuel from U.S. nuclear power plants.
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