NPPA wishes to clarify that the published article presented an inaccurate and distorted picture of the project's reality, drawing conclusions related to the project's safety and the efficiency of its implementation without placing those observations in their correct technical and regulatory context. The project was thereby exploited in pursuit of other political objectives.
Both NPPA and the EPC Contractor simultaneously received an email from the author of the POLITICO article requesting comment on the press material prior to publishing. Following a careful review of the article's content, it was found to lack the required balance and objectivity; it was characterised by inaccuracy and a biased approach, such that it did not merit a response, particularly after the Russian party had already provided a detailed and objective, fact-based responses to all the claims contained in the article.
The El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project is being implemented within the framework of intergovernmental agreements between the Russian Federation and the Arab Republic of Egypt, as well as in accordance with the project contracts concluded with NPPA. The project implementation is carried out under continuous oversight by the competent authorities in both countries, including the Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA).
At present, the El Dabaa NPP project is the largest nuclear power plant construction project in the world. Its implementation requires the application of advanced engineering solutions, the construction of the most robust and complex concrete and steel structures, the application of a multi-level quality control system, and the coordination of the activities of approximately 25,000 specialists of the EPC Contractor, subcontractors, design institutes, as well as the government oversight bodies.
NPPA affirms that the implementation of the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project is carried out in accordance with the highest standards of nuclear safety and security applied internationally. For projects of this scale, the identification of certain individual technical observations and non-conformities during the construction process, and the undertaking of corrective measures, is entirely normal.
All construction, engineering, and installation works are executed in accordance with international quality standards and are subject to continuous inspection by NPPA’s teams to verify their full compliance with the approved requirements.
These works are carried out after fulfilling regulatory procedures and obtaining the necessary approvals from ENRRA in its capacity as the nuclear regulatory body. Within this framework of strict compliance, any engineering observations or apparent defects — particularly those related to concrete pouring — are addressed early on through a non-conformity process.
No construction stage is approved or accepted until the non-conformities are duly addressed, eliminated and tested both hydraulically and structurally.
Furthermore, safety procedures in nuclear projects are not determined on the basis of personal assessments or visual observations, but rather in accordance with an integrated system of risk assessment, work permits, lifting plans, acceptance of equipment, and continuous regulatory supervision — all of which are based on documents and procedures subject to prior review and approval.
Work at the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project is conducted through an integrated management system for industrial safety, occupational health, safety culture, and construction quality. All construction, engineering, and installation operations at the El Dabaa site are subject to a strict, multi-level system to ensure safety.
NPPA — in cooperation with the EPC Contractor — applies the highest standards of nuclear safety culture and occupational health to protect the working personnel and the environment. Any technical or procedural observations are addressed immediately in accordance with the contractual and regulatory monitoring and auditing mechanisms to ensure the quality and safety of the facilities before moving to any subsequent stage.
There are strict rules governing security procedures at the El Dabaa nuclear plant site, in coordination with the EPC Contract and in cooperation with the relevant competent authorities, in order to control the movement of personnel and vehicles accessing the site, and to ensure that workers adhere to the security and behavioral rules governing work at the site.
Any attempts to bypass entry permits, take unauthorised photographs, or bring in materials that violate the instructions are dealt with immediately in accordance with the procedures and the law.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has consistently supported the Egyptian nuclear program, and the El Dabaa project is commended as a model to be emulated for newcomer countries in the nuclear field.
During the Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review Phase 2 mission, the IAEA praised the high level of readiness and the comprehensive infrastructural and institutional foundation that Egypt had prepared to launch its nuclear program in accordance with the Milestones Approach, noting that the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant project is built on solid scientific and institutional foundations that have earned the support and confidence of the international community.
Furthermore, the testimony of the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (Rafael Grossi) affirmed the safety and security that distinguish the project under direct international supervision. In his remarks during the ceremony for the installation of the reactor pressure vessel for the first unit in November 2025, and the installation of the reactor pressure vessel for the second nuclear unit in July 2026, he stated: "Embarking on the nuclear field requires institutional capacities in the areas of safety, security, and safeguards. In this regard, Egypt and the IAEA are working together through review missions and the Agency's Milestones Approach... I would like to reaffirm my appreciation for Egypt's strong international leadership in ensuring the peaceful use of nuclear energy, and my promise that the Agency will be there to support you and work with you for many years to come."
NPPA stresses that the safety of the works at the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant is not subject to the assessment of a single party, nor to the mere statements of the project owner, but rather is subject to an independent national regulatory system, supported by international technical expertise, and to continuous licensing, inspection, and evaluation procedures throughout all phases of the project's implementation. This is in addition to the continuous visits carried out by the IAEA at the El Dabaa nuclear plant site.
The works at the El Dabaa nuclear plant are subject to independent and continuous regulatory oversight by ENRRA, the independent national nuclear regulatory body responsible for nuclear and radiological activities and for regulatory verification of the fulfillment of nuclear safety and security requirements.
This regulatory framework was subject to the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission of the IAEA, which successfully concluded its work in Egypt in June 2026 after a review and comprehensive assessment ENRRA and the El Dabaa plant site.
The international mission concluded that Egypt possesses a comprehensive and robust regulatory and oversight framework for the safety of nuclear and radiological facilities, and it praised the high level of readiness, professionalism, and competence with which the national regulatory body undertakes continuous supervision of the construction and implementation operations at the El Dabaa project — reaffirming the project's conformity with the highest international standards and practices.
As part of the progress of field works, the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant site recently witnessed the arrival of a number of long-lead equipment items, including four steam generators for Unit 1, in addition to the pressurizer; the installation of this main equipment is scheduled to begin before the end of this year.
Additionally, the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant was designed in accordance with the highest standards of nuclear safety in the advanced Generation III+ reactors, representing the most advanced technology available worldwide in the field of nuclear safety and operational efficiency, and fully conforming to the IAEA standards.
The safety and robustness of this design is supported by reference plants operating successfully and relies on a "defense in depth" principle with multiple barriers and passive safety systems that operate through natural phenomena (such as gravity) without the need for electricity.
The Russian reactor design is further distinguished by being equipped with a core catcher to contain the reactor core and the high-level radioactive materials within it. The reactor also has a double-walled containment vessel capable of withstanding the impact of a heavy commercial aircraft weighing 400 tons traveling at a speed of 150 meters per second, as well as withstanding tsunamis, earthquakes, hurricanes, and high winds.
It is worth noting that the political leadership and the Egyptian government continue to support the project and to overcome all challenges facing its implementation. This support contributes to the success of the NPPA in achieving the project's key milestones ahead of the scheduled dates.
In fact, the project is progressing steadily, meeting each key milestone in turn as the work advances. Amongst recent achievements that drew coverage from local and international media are the installation of the reactor pressure vessel for Unit 1 in November 2025 and for Unit 2 this past July.
These milestones were commemorated in official ceremonies held with the participation of the political leadership and senior officials of both the Arab Republic of Egypt and the Russian Federation, alongside prominent figures and representatives of international bodies involved in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
In conclusion, the project has been the subject of public speculation and the dissemination of inaccurate information by various third parties on multiple occasions. In this regard, we consider it of utmost importance to distinguish between confirmed information and mere claims.
NPPA calls upon media and social media users to verify accuracy, to refer to and rely on the information issued by the competent official authorities, and not to be swayed by undocumented conclusions or assessments that do not reflect the nature of the technical procedures followed in such landmark strategic projects.
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