At the second power unit of the El Dabaa NPP under construction in Egypt, the last segment of the third tier of the internal containment shell (VZO – Vnutrennei Zatsitnoi Obolochk) has been installed.
The third tier of the VZO consists of 12 segments, which were manufactured at the production base of the Egyptian construction site. The third tier of the VZO consists of 12 segments, which were manufactured at the production base of the Egyptian construction site. The height of the segments is 9 metres, and they weigh between 40 and 100 tonnes, depending on the structural filling.
Installation of the third tier of the internal containment shell was completed within two weeks. The diameter of the third tier ring is 44 metres. About 50 specialists took part in the installation of each segment. Installation was carried out using a heavy crane with a lifting capacity of 1350 tonnes. The third tier of the containment includes the largest segment of the entire structure, which is 17 metres long – the embedded transport gateway of the reactor building will subsequently be installed in it.
“In two weeks, the reactor building of the second power unit has grown by another 9 metres. This is the result of systematic work based on the principles of the Rosatom production system (PSR – Proizvodstvennoi Sistemi Rosatoma). The PSR is our standard: from planning to execution. This year, we plan to install another tier of the VZO and each of our next steps is based on the accumulated experience and standards of the PSR,” said Alexey Kononenko, Vice President of Atomstroyexport and Director of the El Dabaa NPP construction project.
“This achievement confirms the Management’s continued readiness to strictly follow the approved project schedule, and also reflects the constant efforts and clear coordination between all project participants – I mean, first of all, our partners from the Russian company Atomstroyexport,” said Dr Sharif Helmi Mahmoud, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plant Authority (NPPA). “Achieving such progress in record time – in just two weeks – was made possible by highly qualified Egyptian specialists, as well as through fruitful cooperation with the Russian side, and the diligent work of the installation, engineering, and design teams. This milestone also signifies the effectiveness of Rosatom’s Production System, which serves as a benchmark for excellence in the management and implementation of large-scale projects.”
El Dabaa NPP will comprise four units with Generation III+ VVER-1200 pressurised water reactors. The NPP is being constructed in accordance with 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 all four units is planned for completion by 2028-2029, and Egypt expects that the NPP will reach full capacity by 2030.
