Nuclear power plant

A nuclear power plant comprising a nuclear reactor,

• the nuclear reactor comprising reactor fuel elements, the reactor fuel elements being arranged between a first height and a second height above the first height,
• a reactor vessel surrounding the nuclear reactor and a primary shield surrounding the reactor vessel,
• the primary shield at least forming a ring around the reactor vessel, the primary shield comprising a base portion, an intermediate portion and a top portion, the base portion, the intermediate portion and the top portion each extending continuously circumferentially around the reactor vessel, the base portion of the primary shield having an upper height at or below the first height and the base portion comprising concrete, the top portion of the primary shield having a lower height at or above the second height and the top portion comprising concrete, the intermediate portion of the primary shield being arranged vertically between the base portion and the top portion, the intermediate portion comprising at least one support structure and a matrix material containing one of tungsten, boron, silver, indium, hafnium and cadmium and the least one support structure extending between the top portion and the bottom portion of the primary shield.