Russia and Egypt Presidents Launch Key Stage of Construction of First Nuclear Power Plant in Arab Republic

President of Russia Vladimir Putin and President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi took part in the ceremonial installation of the reactor vessel of the first power unit of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), TV BRICS reported.

This event marks the transition to a key stage of the technological development of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant.

In his address published on the President’s official website, Vladimir Putin emphasised the significance of the project for the Egyptian economy.

"Essentially, we are moving to a key stage of the plant’s technological development, and in the foreseeable future it will be able to begin generating electricity required to meet the needs of Egypt’s growing economy. [...] The Generation III+ reactors will be capable of producing up to 37 billion kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, thereby ensuring around 10 per cent of the country’s energy consumption," Putin said.

The head of state also noted that the Russian side is training nuclear engineers for Egypt. More than 100 Egyptian students have already received specialised education at Russian universities. In July, a dedicated training and professional development centre for personnel was opened at the plant.

The President of Egypt, in turn, described the occasion as a historic moment and a confirmation of the solid strategic relations between the two countries.

"We are today writing the first chapter in the history of our country. Since the mid-20th century, we have been waiting for this turning point. [...] This reflects the fact that our partnership is not limited to political decisions but also includes real projects that bring benefits to both peoples," Sisi said.

According to him, the NPP is being built in accordance with the “Egypt Vision 2030” project. Under this programme, the Arab Republic is set to become a regional energy hub in the future.

The El-Dabaa NPP will consist of four power units with a total capacity of 4800 megawatts. The plant is being constructed on the Mediterranean coast, 300 kilometres from Cairo.