Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi meet in China, Sept. 4, 2017. (Mikhail Klimentyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)
The first reactor units are expected to be connected to Egypt’s electrical grid in 2027 or 2028.
By Vered Weiss, World Israel News
Russia is moving ahead with construction of the $30 billion El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, a project led by Russia’s state-owned corporation Rosatom that is expected to provide more than 10% of Egypt’s electricity once fully operational, Ynet reported.
The facility is being built at El Dabaa and will include four Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactors.
According to project plans, the first reactor units are expected to be connected to Egypt’s electrical grid in 2027 or 2028, while all four reactors are scheduled to reach full commercial operation by 2030.
Construction has reached several key milestones. Concrete work for all four reactor units has been completed, and installation of the first reactor pressure vessel has already been carried out with the backing of both national leaders.
The project is valued at $30 billion and is being financed primarily through a $25 billion concessional Russian state loan. The loan covers 85% of the overall construction costs.
Under the agreements governing the project, Russia is responsible for supplying the technology used at the facility and for constructing the plant.
Russia will also train personnel for the first 10 years of operation. In addition, Moscow is contracted to provide and manage nuclear fuel for the facility throughout its entire life cycle.
The scale of Russia’s involvement extends beyond construction and financing. The arrangements place key elements of the plant’s operation, fuel supply, and workforce training under long-term Russian participation.
Analysts have described the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant as a strategic “beachhead” for Moscow. They say the project links a major component of Egypt’s energy infrastructure to Russian technology, financing and fuel supply arrangements, giving Russia a long-term presence in the Eastern Mediterranean and the broader Middle East.
When completed, the four-reactor facility is expected to become one of the largest energy projects in Egypt and a major source of electricity generation for the country.
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