Egypt marks milestone in nuclear energy, installs first container vessel

Egypt has taken a significant step forward in its nuclear energy ambitions with the completion of the installation of the first internal container vessel for the reactor building at the Dabaa nuclear station.

This milestone in the construction of the first nuclear unit was achieved by specialists and experts from Atomstroyexport, the project’s general contractor, in cooperation with engineers and specialists from Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority.

The Dabaa project, located 300 kilometers northwest of Cairo, kicked off in June 2023 with the construction of the first of four 1,200-megawatt power units. Rosatom, the world’s leading supplier of nuclear fuel and reactors, oversees the project.

Despite global geopolitical tensions, Rosatom has not faced sanctions from the US or Europe, ensuring steady progress on the station.

The groundwork for this ambitious $30 billion project was laid in 2017, with a deal signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. A significant portion of the funding is backed by a loan from Moscow.

The Dabaa project faced delays following the 2015 bombing of a Russian airliner over Egypt, which resulted in the tragic loss of 224 lives and a temporary halt in flights between the two nations. The resumption of flights last year has revitalized Egypt’s tourism industry, particularly among Russian visitors.

This latest development marks a crucial phase in Egypt’s journey toward enhancing its energy infrastructure and achieving greater energy independence.