Hinkley Point C has hit its biggest milestone yet with the completion – on schedule – of the base for the first reactor.

And that means that construction of the nuclear buildings above ground can now begin in earnest.

The final 9,000 cubic metres of concrete to complete the base was the largest concrete pour in the UK, beating a record set by the Shard in London.

Reinforced with 5,000 tonnes of Welsh steel, the base has been under construction by the UK-French joint venture of Bouygues-Laing O’Rourke for six months.

The event was marked by a visit to the site by the minister responsible for nuclear energy, Andrew Stephenson, last Friday.

“This is a huge achievement for Hinkley Point C and a major milestone for the UK’s nuclear new-build industry, which – as a low-carbon electricity source – is key to meeting our ambitious target of net zero emissions by 2050,” he said.

“The project will not only power nearly six million homes, it will add an enormous boost to the local and national economy, delivering over 25,000 new jobs and securing long-term, well-paid employment – a key step in delivering clean growth as part of our modern Industrial Strategy.”

The completion has been dubbed “J-zero”, and good progress and efficiency improvements mean that the second Hinkley C reactor will hit its own J-zero moment in June next year.

For the full report, and more photos, buy today’s Free Press (July 5).