This permit, along with excavation works at site, is necessary for the start of the main stage of construction, ROSATOM said.

In November 2015, the Egyptian government signed an agreement with Russia to build Egypt’s first nuclear power plant in El-Dabaa region of Marsa Matrouh, which aims to generate a total of 4,800 megawatts through four reactors.

“Obtaining construction permit for the Unit 1 is a momentous occasion paving the way for the launch of full-scale construction of the first NPP in Egypt,” Alexey Likhachev, ROSATOM director general stated on Thursday.

He added that “El-Dabaa NPP will be the first nuclear power plant of this generation on the African continent. It will further secure the country’s regional technological leadership.”

Amgad El-Wakeel, board chairman of Nuclear Power Plants Authority of Egypt, said, “Today, we etched in gold Egypt joining the ranks of countries building nuclear power plants after over 70 years waiting for this dream to come true.”

Earlier in June, ROSATOM announced that it started the manufacture in Saint Petersburg of electrical components for the plant’s reactor vessel, according to Sputnik news agency.

Earlier in 2022, CEO of ROSATOM Alexey Likhachev stated that construction of El-Dabaa is set to begin in July.

According to the project’s design, the nuclear plant will have four VVER-1,200 reactor units, with the first unit scheduled to be operational in 2026.

In November 2021, Egypt signed a long-term one million-dollar agreement with the Czech ÚJV Rež Research and Development company to consult on El-Dabaa Nuclear Plant, according to ENRRA Chairperson Sami Shaaban.

According to the contract, ÚJV Rež will provide technical assistance to the ENRRA in licensing the nuclear plant.