The reactor vessel for Unit 1 of the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, being constructed by Rosatom in Egypt, has arrived at the construction site. Installation is scheduled to begin in November 2025, according to a statement from the Russian nuclear corporation.
Weighing over 330 tons, the reactor vessel—a critical component housing the reactor core where controlled nuclear fission occurs—was manufactured by Rosatom's Izhora plant. It was transported by sea from St. Petersburg to the plant's specialized port facility, built by Egyptian authorities to handle oversized equipment, in a 20-day operation.
Representatives from Egypt's Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA), the plant's owner and future operator, witnessed key manufacturing stages to verify quality control and technical compliance.
Located in the Matrouh Governorate approximately 300 kilometers northwest of Cairo, El Dabaa will be Egypt's first nuclear power plant. The facility will consist of four 1,200-megawatt units equipped with Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactors, Russian-designed pressurized water reactors with proven operational references.
Under contractual agreements effective since December 2017, Rosatom will not only construct the plant but also supply nuclear fuel throughout its operational life. The Russian side will additionally assist in training Egyptian personnel and support plant maintenance during the first decade of operation, while also building specialized storage facilities and providing containers for spent nuclear fuel under a separate contract.
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Photo: Wikiemirati/Creative Commons 4.0
Based on materials from TASS