Page 6 - AfrElec Week 30 2021

AfrElec NUCLEAR AfrElec

Russia denies any delay in Egypt’s

El-Dabaa nuclear project

EGYPT LOCAL media in Egypt have reported that the chairman Amged El-Wakeel to the Rostov NPP
El-Dabaa nuclear power plant (NPP), which is in Russia had emphasised the continuing com-
being built by Russia, has been delayed because mitment of the two countries to the implemen-
of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. tation of this historic project.
Al-Monitor reported that Egyptian Nuclear The 4,800-MW NPP is expected to cost up to
and Radiological Regulatory Authority spokes- $30bn, 85% of which will be financed through a
man Karim al-Adham had told local media that $25bn Russian loan.
the first reactor would now be built by 2030, and Russian technology, know-how and fuel will
not 2028. be used to build the plant.
He added that construction of the plant Moscow’s heavy investment and technical
would not start for another year, as regulators involvement in Egypt means that Cairo must
are likely to issue construction licences plant by tread carefully at the UN Security Council and
mid-2022, rather than the earlier date of the sec- in regional politics over the GERD issue.
ond half of 2021. Egypt has repeatedly asked for the Security
In reply, Russia’s Rosatom said on July 29 in Council to intervene in the matter, whereas Ethi-
a series of tweets that the El-Dabaa NPP project opia has always wanted to maintain the existing
was not suspended, and that bilaterial co-op- negotiating framework.
eration between Egypt and Russia remained as Ethiopia also intends to add water to the res-
strong as ever. ervoir during the current summer. The filling
However, Al-Monitor suggested that the process has reached 4bn cubic metres of water.
delay at El-Dabaa could have been caused by In 2020, Ethiopia added 4.9 bcm to the reservoir.
Russia’s evident support for Ethiopia in the coun- The Egyptian government said it had received
tries’ dispute over the construction of the Grand an official note from the Ethiopian government
Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). that the filling had started, and that it had firmly
Al-Monitor mentioned Russia diplomats had rejected the unilateral measure.
expressed concern at the UN Security Council The Egyptian irrigation ministry said the
about the heated threatening rhetoric from both move was “a violation of international laws and
sides during the crisis over the dam. norms that regulate projects built on the shared
The newspaper also said that Ethiopia had basins of international rivers.”
officially thanked Russia for its support in the Egypt cannot afford to fall out with a major
GERD crisis. trading partner and source of investment while
Rosatom said that the recent visit of Egyptian it is exposed to international politics that could
Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) board damage its diplomatic position.™

P6 www. NEWSBASE .com Week 30 29•July•2021