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Putin and El‑Sisi Mark Installation of First Reactor Vessel at Egypt’s El Dabaa Nuclear Plant

The milestone moves the project into core assembly, with Rosatom contracted for long‑term fuel supply plus lifecycle services.

Overview

  • Russia and Egypt’s presidents joined the El Dabaa Unit 1 installation by videoconference, with Rosatom’s Alexey Likhachev participating and IAEA chief Rafael Grossi addressing the event.
  • The ceremony included a signed order for nuclear fuel, complementing agreements for a 60‑year fuel supply, training, and 10 years of post‑startup maintenance per unit.
  • El Dabaa is designed for four VVER‑1200 reactors totaling 4.8 gigawatts, which officials say could supply roughly 10% of Egypt’s electricity when fully operational.
  • Project partners highlighted local participation, citing 55% of contracting handled by Egyptian firms and ongoing work at 222 site locations involving about 1,700 Egyptian specialists.
  • Contract milestones include a dry spent‑fuel storage module by 2028, and Egyptian authorities expect the plant to reach full capacity by 2030.