First base completed for Hinkley Point C

French-based energy provider EDF has announced that a key phase in the construction of the UK’s Hinkley Point C nuclear plant has been reached after completion of the base for the first reactor.

The company said after this achievement, work on the above-ground reactor 1 building can begin. It added that the second reactor would hit the same milestone in June next year.

Construction of the base was delivered on schedule by a joint venture between French contractor Bouygues and UK building firm Laing O’Rourke.

The final 9,000 m³ of concrete was the largest concrete pour in the UK, beating a record set by the Shard in London. Reinforced with 5,000 tonnes of steel sourced from Wales, the base has been under construction by the UK-French joint venture for six months.

The plant is expected to be completed by the end of 2025 and provide around 7% of Britain’s power needs or enough power for around 6 million homes. Once construction is finalised, the facility should have a power capacity of 3,200 MW.