A snap shot of installation process of the first reactor pressure vessel for Unit 1 of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant.
What is the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant?
El-Dabaa is Egypt’s first nuclear power plant and one of the largest civilian nuclear projects currently under construction worldwide.
Located on the Mediterranean coast in Matrouh Governorate, the project is being built in cooperation with Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom.
The plant includes four VVER-1200 Generation III+ pressurized-water reactors, each producing 1,200 MW, for a total of 4,800 MW.
The VVER-1200 is Rosatom’s flagship reactor design and is considered among the safest civilian nuclear technologies in operation.
Technical specifications
1. Reactor type and safety systems
- VVER-1200 Generation III+ reactors
- Water-water energetic reactor (pressurized-water reactor)
- Double containment structure capable of withstanding:
- Major earthquakes
- Aircraft impacts
- External explosions
- Tsunamis and extreme flooding
- Passive and active safety systems, including the following:
- Passive heat removal
- Core catcher technology
- Redundant cooling systems
2. Expected operation and electricity generation
- Total electrical output: 4,800 MW (4 units × 1,200 MW)
- Annual electricity generation expected: ~37 billion kWh
- Expected contribution to Egypt’s grid: approximately 10 percent
- Reactor lifespan: 60 years, with extension possible to 80 years
- Capacity factor: over 90 percent (extremely high stability compared to fossil fuels or renewables)
3. Construction and regulatory milestones
- The Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA) issued the construction permit for Unit 1 in June 2022.
- Subsequent construction permits were issued for Units 2, 3, and 4 in 2022 and 2023.
- Heavy-equipment foundations, turbine buildings, and reactor buildings are now under advanced construction.
4. Projected timeline
- Unit 1 commercial operation: expected in H2 of 2028
- Units 2, 3, and 4: expected in 2029–2030, sequentially
(Ahram Online business reports)
5. Nuclear fuel
- Russia will supply nuclear fuel for all four reactors throughout their operational lifespan.
- Fuel handling and return of spent fuel will be jointly managed under strict regulatory and safety frameworks.
6. Financing
- Total project cost: approximately $30 billion.
- Russia is providing a state export loan covering 85 percent of the total cost.
- Egypt funds the remaining 15 percent over several decades.
7. Localization and Egyptian industry participation
- Local content requirements increase with each unit:
- Unit 1: 20 percent Egyptian content
- Unit 2: 25 percent
- Unit 3: 30 percent
- Unit 4: 35 percent
- Egyptian companies in construction, engineering, cement, metals, and electrical works are playing major roles.
8. Port facilities and logistics
- A dedicated port terminal was constructed at El-Dabaa to receive heavy reactor components.
- Specialized warehouses, cranes, and transport corridors were developed exclusively for nuclear-grade equipment.
Why is El-Dabaa important for Egypt?
1. Energy security
Energy demand in Egypt is growing steadily. The plant will provide a long-term, stable electricity supply that is insulated from global fuel price volatility.
2. Clean energy and climate commitments
El-Dabaa will deliver large-scale, low-carbon electricity that supports Egypt’s climate commitments and complements its expanding solar and wind capacity.
3. High-level technology transfer
Thousands of Egyptians are being trained by Rosatom in nuclear engineering, safety, radiation protection, and operations, strengthening Egypt’s scientific and technological base.
4. Economic and industrial impact
El-Dabaa will do the following:
- Create thousands of direct and indirect jobs,
- Stimulate local industrial supply chains,
- Improve Egypt’s high-tech manufacturing capabilities,
- Attract international investment to the energy sector.
5. Strategic cooperation
The project is a flagship pillar of Egyptian–Russian cooperation, continuing a legacy that began in the 1960s with the construction of the High Dam.
What milestone was just achieved?
On 19 November, Egypt installed the first reactor pressure vessel for Unit 1, the key component that houses the reactor core. This marks the shift from civil construction to nuclear mechanical assembly.
The event was attended via videoconference by:
- President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi,
- Russian President Vladimir Putin,
- IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi,
- Senior Rosatom and Egyptian officials.
The ceremony also included the signing of the nuclear fuel purchase order for Unit 1, a crucial step toward commissioning.
IAEA chief Rafael Grossi described the progress as “one of the most significant developments in Egypt’s modern energy landscape.”
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