Framatome supplies reactor pressure vessel for Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Somerset, UK
Type: Supply Agreement · Technology: Nuclear · Country: United Kingdom · Announced: 2026-08-10
Framatome completed manufacturing and delivered the reactor pressure vessel for the second EPR reactor at EDF's Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant in Somerset, England. The 500-ton vessel, manufactured at Framatome's Saint-Marcel plant in eastern France, was transported via barge and road to the construction site, requiring six hours to cover 6.4 miles due to its size and fragility. The vessel was installed using the Sarens SGC-250 crane, known as Big Carl, marking a critical milestone in the 30-year hiatus of nuclear new-builds in the UK. Once operational, the two EPR units at Hinkley Point C will generate enough carbon-free electricity for six million homes. Lessons learned from Unit 1's construction, including increased prefabrication (now 60% of the build), have accelerated progress on Unit 2 by 20-30%, with similar techniques expected for the planned Sizewell C project in Suffolk.
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