Reactor Vessel for Unit Two Arrives at Egypt’s Dabaa Nuclear Plant

 Mahmoud Esmat, Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy conducted a field visit Thursday to the site of the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant to review implementation progress on the country’s flagship nuclear energy project and oversee the arrival ceremony for the reactor pressure vessel designated for the plant’s second nuclear unit.

During the visit, the minister described the El Dabaa project as a central pillar of Egypt’s national energy strategy and a critical component in securing long-term electricity grid stability as the country expands its clean and renewable energy capacity while reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

Esmat began the tour with a meeting involving Sherif Helmy to assess construction progress, technical execution rates, and adherence to the project’s implementation timetable. Discussions also focused on training and qualifying Egyptian personnel needed to operate the facility in cooperation with Russian partners.

The minister later met Egyptian and Russian engineering and project management teams supervising implementation works, alongside officials from Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority and representatives of Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear energy company overseeing the project.

The meetings reviewed coordination mechanisms between both sides and examined progress across various construction and technical phases to ensure compliance with the project’s scheduled timeline.

A key moment during the visit was the official reception of the reactor pressure vessel for the second nuclear unit at El Dabaa Specialized Port, ahead of its planned installation later this year.

Esmat said the reactor vessel represents one of the plant’s most strategic and safety-critical components due to its role in containing the reactor core and ensuring operational reliability under strict nuclear safety standards.

The minister added that authorities are closely supervising transportation, unloading, and logistical coordination procedures for the heavy equipment in line with international quality and safety requirements.

According to Esmat, the El Dabaa nuclear project forms part of Egypt’s broader Vision 2030 development strategy and supports the government’s objective of increasing the share of renewable and clean energy sources to 45% of the national energy mix by 2028.

He also emphasized that implementation continues according to schedule alongside expanded domestic and international training programs designed to prepare highly qualified Egyptian technical personnel capable of operating the facility once completed.

The minister praised the strategic partnership between Egypt and Russia, saying bilateral cooperation has strengthened Egypt’s peaceful nuclear energy program while also providing Egyptian companies participating in the project with advanced technical and engineering expertise.