Nuclear Project $16 Billion Over Budget Wins Major US Approval

(Bloomberg) -- A US nuclear reactor in a project that’s $16 billion over budget and seven years behind schedule cleared a major regulatory hurdle on Friday, bringing it a step closer to full commercial operations.   

Southern Co.’s Vogtle 4 reactor in Georgia received approval to load fuel, the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission said in a letter. The Vogtle complex is set to become the largest single power source in the US but has been beset by delays and cost increases. 

“The team at the site continues working diligently to make final preparations for Unit 4 fuel load, initiate startup testing and bring the unit online,” the plant’s operator, Southern unit Georgia Power, said in a statement. 

The opening of Vogtle 3, another reactor at the same complex, was delayed last month because of a faulty seal identified during testing, according to a regulatory filing. 

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