Construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power facility, the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, continues to advance rapidly with the recent completion of a key structural milestone at Unit 2. The second level of the inner containment structure was installed in just over two weeks, marking significant progress in the plant’s development.
This cylindrical section, designed to encase the reactor and associated core systems, consists of 12 massive pre-fabricated components, each measuring 12 meters in length and 14 meters in height, with individual segments weighing over 60 tonnes. All components were produced on-site. Once complete, this inner structure will be enclosed by a larger outer containment shell topped with a dome.
Installation took place from February 16 to March 4, involving two teams of over 80 experts each and requiring the use of a heavy-lift crane. Following this phase, the inner containment structure now exceeds 20 meters in height.
Alexey Kononenko, Vice President at ASE and the head of the El Dabaa project, highlighted that the milestone was achieved ahead of schedule thanks to effective coordination between the Egyptian and Russian teams. He noted that this progress sets the stage for upcoming activities in 2025, including steel reinforcement, formwork placement, and concrete pouring for the second containment level.
El Dabaa is not only Egypt’s inaugural nuclear power facility but also the first such development in Africa since South Africa’s Koeberg station, built nearly four decades ago. Located approximately 320 kilometers northwest of Cairo, the plant is being developed by Russia’s Rosatom and will feature four VVER-1200 pressurised water reactors. These are the same reactor models currently operating in Russia and Belarus.
Under the terms of a 2017 agreement, Rosatom is responsible for constructing the plant and supplying nuclear fuel throughout its operational lifespan. This includes the provision of spent fuel storage solutions, staff training, and technical support for the first decade of operation. Rosatom has stated that it aims to design reactors capable of operating for up to 100 years.
Construction of all four units is being carried out in close succession, with Unit 1’s first concrete poured in July 2022 and Unit 4 following in January 2024. Egypt plans for nuclear energy to supply 9% of its electricity needs by 2030, a goal that hinges on commissioning the first two units of El Dabaa by that time. This shift would help reduce dependence on fossil fuels such as oil and gas.
Source- WNN News
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