Photo caption: El Dabaa milestone highlights new opportunities for nuclear energy development in Africa
Rosatom has installed the reactor pressure vessel at Unit 2 of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant, bringing the four-unit El-Dabaa project closer to its next key construction stage.
The reactor pressure vessel was successfully installed in its design position at Unit 2 of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), a Rosatom project in the Arab Republic of Egypt. The ceremony was attended by Director General of Rosatom State Corporation Alexey Likhachev, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, and Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy of Egypt, Dr. Mahmoud Esmat. Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi delivered opening remarks during the ceremony.
The El-Dabaa NPP will be Egypt’s first nuclear power plant. It is being built on the Mediterranean coast in Matrouh Governorate and will comprise four power units, each with a capacity of 1,200 MW and equipped with Russian-designed Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactors.
“Today’s event represents another important step in implementing one of the New Republic’s largest national projects, bringing Egypt closer to realising its long-standing dream of operating its own peaceful nuclear power plant. The El-Dabaa NPP is one of the country’s most significant national projects, embodying the objectives of Egypt Vision 2030 by supporting comprehensive development and reinforcing Egypt’s regional and international standing under the slogan: ‘Energy That Builds the Future’,” noted Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly.
Photo caption: El Dabaa milestone highlights new opportunities for nuclear energy development in Africa
The installation of the reactor pressure vessel at Unit 2 marks an important stage of construction. The reactor pressure vessel is a central component of the reactor system, housing the reactor core where a controlled nuclear fission chain reaction takes place.
“Construction of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant is progressing at an excellent pace. Just seven months ago, we installed the reactor pressure vessel at Unit 1, and today we are carrying out the same operation at Unit 2. This is a significant milestone not only for the unit itself but for the entire project. It enables us to move on to the next key stage – the welding of the main coolant pipeline,” emphasised Director General of Rosatom State Corporation Alexey Likhachev.
During the installation operation, the reactor pressure vessel, weighing more than 340 tonnes, was placed at the centre of the reactor shaft using a 1,350-tonne heavy crawler crane. The installation was carried out with an accuracy of one-tenth of a millimetre.
Installation of the reactor pressure vessel brings the unit closer to physical start-up, when nuclear fuel is loaded into the reactor for the first time.
As part of the project, the Russian side will not only construct the plant but will also supply nuclear fuel throughout its operating lifetime, support the training of Egyptian operating personnel, provide technical assistance during the first ten years of operation and maintenance, and create infrastructure for spent nuclear fuel storage.
The El Dabaa project is moving forward amid growing African interest in nuclear energy. Nigeria, which faces the challenge of significantly increasing electricity generation, sees nuclear power as one of the promising solutions. The country has been cooperating with Rosatom for many years: agreements have been signed on the construction of an NPP and a research centre, as well as a roadmap for the peaceful use of atomic technologies. The experience gained through the El Dabaa project and Rosatom’s broad portfolio of solutions can contribute to the further development of nuclear energy in the region.
