Egypt has commenced the main construction phase for Unit 2 of the 4.8GW El-Dabaa nuclear power plant following the approval of Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority.

Located on the Mediterranean coast, the El-Dabaa nuclear power project will include four units with a generation capacity of 1.2GW per unit.

El-Dabaa, which will be the first nuclear power plant in Egypt will feature Generation III+ VVER-1200 pressurized water reactors.

The construction work of the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant was awarded to Russia’s Rosatom, which will deliver Russian nuclear fuel for its entire lifecycle and help in the project’s operation and servicing for the first 10 years of its operation.

Dr Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi — Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy said: “The Egyptian-Russian team is demonstrating the highest levels of professional excellence, and is achieving key milestones for the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant Project well ahead of schedule.

“I am confident that the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project will have a significant impact on the lives of all Egyptians, and will also allow Egypt to take its place amongst other regional leaders in the nuclear industry.”

The Russian party will also construct a special storage plant and deliver casks for storing spent nuclear fuel.

Dr Alexey Likhachev — Rosatom Director General said: “The construction of the El-Dabaa NPP Unit 2 speaks to the fact that the project is gaining pace.

“… the project in Egypt has a special importance for us as El-Dabaa will become the first nuclear power plant on the African continent built using the Russian technology.

In November 2015, Egypt and Russia entered into an initial agreement, pursuant to which, Russia will construct and fund the El-Dabaa nuclear power plant.

  Dr Alexey Likhachev, Dr Mohamed Shaker El-Markabi, Egypt, El-Dabaa nuclear project, ROSATOM