Rosatom specialists have begun installing the third tier of the internal containment (VZO – Vnutrennei Zatsitnoi Obolochk) at unit 2 of the El Dabaa NPP under construction in Egypt.
At the second power unit of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant in Egypt (general designer and general contractor – Engineering Division of the state corporation Rosatom), specialists began work on installing the third tier of the internal containment shell (ICC, a cylindrical structure inside which the nuclear reactor and equipment will be located primary circuit) of the reactor building.
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 weight between 40 and 100 tonnes, depending on the structural filling. After installation is completed work will begin on joining the segments into a single ring. The installation rate will be one unit per day. The installation process is carried out using a heavy-duty crane with a lifting capacity of 1,350 tonnes. The work involves a team of professionals with experience in the installation of high-power equipment both on the Egyptian project and on other Rosatom foreign projects.
“Another important technological milestone has been reached ahead of schedule – the beginning of the installation of the third tier of the inner containment at unit 2, said Vice President of Atomstroyexport and Director of the El Dabaa NPP construction project, Alexey Kononenko. The build-up of this structure is a direct result of the dedicated work of welders, installers, controllers, engineers, designers, and specialists from various fields involved in the work, and, of course, productive partnership with the Egyptian customer,” he said.
Dr Sharif Helmi Mahmoud, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plant Authority, said this achievement “confirms the commitment of the Nuclear Power Plant Management to meet the approved project deadlines and reflects the ongoing efforts and clear coordination between the customer and the general contractor”. He thanked “the outstanding work of the Egyptian staff, fruitful cooperation with the Russian side and the dedicated work of the installation, engineering and design teams”. He added: “With every step forward, we are getting closer to realising Egypt’s long–held dream of building its first nuclear power plant, which will contribute to energy diversification, increase energy security and support sustainable development for a brighter and more prosperous future.”
