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AfrElec NUCLEAR AfrElec
Egypt’s nuclear regulator
grants permit for second
reactor at El Dabaa
EGYPT EGYPT’S Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory El-Dabaa NPP, deliver Russian nuclear fuel for
Authority (ENRRA) has granted a construction its entire life cycle, as well as assist the Egyptian
permit for the second generating unit of the El side in personnel training and support them in
Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant being constructed the operation and servicing of the NPP for the
by Russian state-owned nuclear power plant first 10 years of its operation.
maker ROSATOM. Within the framework of another agreement,
Simultaneously, the country’s Nuclear Power the Russians will also build a special storage facil-
Plants Authority (NPPA) reported that the first ity and deliver casks for storing spent nuclear
concrete for the second unit might be poured on fuel.
November 19, 2022. The project, paid for with a loan from Russia,
In July, ROSATOM broke ground on the con- is expected to cost around $25bn, according to
struction of Egypt’s first nuclear power station, the Egyptian media. Although ROSATOM is
in El Dabaa on the Mediterranean north coast, known to work on a revenue-sharing basis with
roughly 300km northwest of Cairo. its clients putting upfront costs on the expecta-
ROSATOM will build four cutting-edge tion of future cashflow from operations. It is not
power units of VVER-1200 design at El-Dabaa immediately clear how Egypt, with its stretched
nuclear power plant over several years. finances, will pay for such an expensive, high
The El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) ticket project with construction in phases
will consist of 4 units with a generating capacity expected to last at least till 2026.
equivalent to 1200 MW per unit using genera- ROSATOM, a major global supplier in the
tion III+ VVER-1200 reactors, and pressurized nuclear industry, is among the few large Russian
water reactors. state companies still not subject to sanctions
According to the terms of the contract imposed by the US and its allies over the Krem-
between the Russian and Egyptian authorities, lin’s invasion of Ukraine in February.
the ROSATOM-led consortium will build the
Week 44 02•November•2022 www. NEWSBASE .com P9
