Rosatom has received permission from the Egyptian Nuclear & Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA) to build unit 3 of the El Dabaa NPP. The decision was made at a meeting headed by Board Chairman Samy Shaaban after ENRRA experts confirmed the safety of unit 3 following a comprehensive inspection. Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plant Authority "has fulfilled all the regulatory requirements of the regulator, reached the highest standards of nuclear safety and ensured full readiness to begin construction of the third unit of nuclear power plants", ENRRA said. First concrete for unit 3 is expected to be poured "in the second quarter of this year".
The El Dabaa NPP will comprise four units with generation III+ VVER-1200 pressurised water reactors. The NPP is being constructed in accordance with and contracts that entered into force in 2017. The $30bn project is mainly financed through a $25bn Russian loan. Rosatom will supply nuclear fuel throughout the lifecycle of the plant, arrange for the training of the Egyptian personnel, and assist in the operation and maintenance of the plant for the first 10 years. The reference plant for El Dabaa is the Leningrad-II NPP. Construction of unit 1 began in July 2022, and work on unit 2 began in November 2022. Construction of all four units is planned for completion by 2028-2029 and Egypt expects that the NPP will reach full capacity by 2030.
“Receipt of the construction licence for unit 3 is the result of huge effort in preparation of the licence documentation,” said Alexander Korchagin, ASE JSC Senior Vice President for NPP Construction Projects Management. “This is another important step that brings us closer to construction of unit 3. Thanks to the well-coordinated work of plant owner (NPPA) and the contractor (ASE JSC) we are embarking on new stages in the construction of the first nuclear power plant in Egypt.”
Image: Workers are preparing to pour first concrete at El Dabaa unit 3 (courtesy of NPPA)
