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The facility is being constructed by Rosatom in the city of El Dabaa in the Matrouh province on the Mediterranean coast The first nuclear power plant (NPP) being built in Egypt has the potential to double its capacity, will bring on thousands more jobs, with the reactor vessel set to be installed in November. These three major updates on “the largest nuclear construction project on the planet in terms of its geography” were provided recently by the Director-General of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom, Alexey Likhachev. The NPP in Egypt is being constructed by Rosatom in the city of El-Dabaa in the Matrouh province on the Mediterranean coast. Tale of the tape of nuclear power plant in Egypt The plant will consist of four power units, each with a capacity of 1,200 MW, equipped with VVER-1200 water-water reactors. Rosatom said previously that this is “an evolutionary Generation III+ project that fully meets international safety standards.” “This is the largest construction project on the African continent and, without question, an unprecedented nuclear initiative. Four power units are being built simultaneously, and the site itself allows for a possible doubling of capacity,” he said. The Rosatom Director-General added that the construction of all four units of the plant is proceeding in full accordance with the plan and contractual obligations. The nuclear reactor vessel to be installed Likhachev confirmed to Russia’s state media outlet Tass on Friday (April 4) that the installation of the reactor vessel at the NPP is planned to begin in November. “We are awaiting a very exciting event, essentially the birth of a nuclear facility – the installation of the reactor vessel in its design position on the first unit. “Prior to the arrival of the reactor, it’s still just a construction shell, but with the arrival of such critical nuclear equipment, it begins to take on all the characteristics of a nuclear facility. “I believe that in November, in time for Egypt’s Nuclear Industry Workers’ Day, we will begin this very important and significant procedure,” Likhachev said. Russia will look to work with companies from Egypt on future nuclear builds Meanwhile, the number of “specialists” working on the construction of the plant will be increased to 30,000 by 2025, he confirmed. “This is the largest nuclear construction project on the planet in terms of its geography. “Currently, 25,000 people are working at the site. I am confident that within a year, we will significantly increase the workforce and exceed 30,000, possibly approaching 40,000,” he said. Likhachev noted that the majority of the general construction and concrete work is being carried out by Egyptian companies. “I am confident that Egyptian companies will become excellent partners for us in implementing projects in third countries,” he said. Nuclear deals struck with several African countries At the 13th Atomexpo in Sochi last March, Russia signed several deals with African countries. The most notable among them involving lithium mining in Mali and the construction of a nuclear power plant in Burkina Faso. In 2023, Rosatom and the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) approved an Action Plan for Cooperation. The two parties agreed to cooperate in the “peaceful use of nuclear energy” between 2023 and 2025. Currently Koeberg Nuclear Power Station in Cape Town, South Africa, is the continent’s only NPP. Why Africa needs nuclear energy Last November, Ryan Collyer, CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa told the BRICS Africa Channel that Africa “is sort of desperate for energy.” “And really, we see nuclear power playing a very important role on the continent, both large-scale reactors like our project in Egypt. Then we’re looking at small modular reactors (SMRs). “This year, actually, we signed our first export contract on SMRs in Uzbekistan. And we are working on floating nuclear power plants. So we have the first floating nuclear power plant, Academic Lomonosov, in Russia. “And we really are looking at or envisioning a fleet of floating nuclear power plants for Africa. We really think that they would be good in coastal regions, remote areas, mining activities.” |
