Egypt Begins Constructions of First Nuclear Plant

Mohamed Shaker, the Egyptian Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, and General Director of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) Alexei Likhachev gave the green light to start pouring of the first concrete for El Dabaa NPP.

"The construction launch at El-Dabaa NPP unit 1 means that Egypt has joined the nuclear club," Likhachov said, according to RT.

He noted that the plant will be the largest project of the Russian-Egyptian cooperation since the Aswan High Dam, as having its own nuclear energy industry has been a dream for the Egyptian people for more than half a century.

The El Dabaa nuclear power plant project - about 300 km northwestern part of Cairo - is located in Matrouh Governorate on the coast of the Mediterranean.

The plant comprises four VVER-1200 units, like those already in operation at the Leningrad and Novovoronezh nuclear power plants in Russia, and the Ostrovets nuclear power plant in Belarus.

The contracts stipulate that Rosatom will not only build the plant but will also supply Russian nuclear fuel for its entire life cycle.

Rosatom will also assist Egyptian partners in training personnel and plant maintenance for the first 10 years of its operation. The corporation is also contracted to build a special storage facility and supply containers for storing used nuclear fuel.