Georgia Power announced today the latest milestone in the expansion of Plant Vogtle near Waynesboro, Georgia – the placement of the lower ring for Unit 4. The 1.9 million-pound lower ring was lifted into place by the heavy lift derrick, one of the largest cranes in the world, and is the first of three containment vessel rings for Unit 4. 

"Weighing nearly 1,000 tons, the placement of the lower ring for Unit 4 required a tremendous amount of precision and planning to be accomplished safely and correctly," said Mark Rauckhorst, vice president of construction for Vogtle 3 &4.

Other recent milestones for the Vogtle expansion include the receipt of the last major permit needed for the new units, the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit; the placement of the concrete "turbine tabletop" for Unit 3 and the placement of the 2.28 million-pound Unit 3 CA01 module.