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Georgia Power states Vogtle System 4 atomic power plant reaches initial urgency

U.S. electrical and gas energy Southern Co on Wednesday said its Vogtle nuclear plant's System 4 had safely reached preliminary criticality, an essential step to ultimately kick off industrial operations.

The Vogtle two-unit expansion job near Waynesboro, Georgia, has been hailed as a major turning point for the U.S. nuclear power market, which some view as a crucial way to transition to cleaner energy sources.

The job, nevertheless, is running billions of dollars over spending plan and years behind schedule.

Very first urgency is an essential action throughout start-up screening and shows that, for the first time, operators have securely began the nuclear response inside the reactor, the company added.

Last July, Southern Co's System 3 ended up being the latest reactor in the United States to enter industrial service. System 4, its 2nd reactor, is slated for conclusion in the first quarter.

Georgia Power, a system of Southern Co, has a 45.7% stake in the Vogtle reactors.

Southern Co serves more than 9 million clients. Its electricity segment accommodates the states of Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi. The gas section supplies services in the states of Illinois, Georgia, Virginia and Tennessee.