CAIRO: Egypt’s El-Dabaa nuclear plant project is proceeding according to the schedule agreed with Russian company Rosatom, Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister Mohammed Shaker said, as the head of Rosatom visited Egypt to inspect the site.
Shaker confirmed that the plant is not facing any obstacles and aims begin operation in 2026.
Work is underway on the project in the city of El-Dabaa in Matrouh governorate on the Mediterranean coast.
The first El-Dabaa nuclear power plant will consist of four power units with a capacity of 1,200 megawatts each.
These plants will be equipped with the third generation VVER-1200 reactor (GEN3+), the latest technology designed for nuclear power plants.
It is expected that 25,000 workers will be employed on the construction of the plant, 80 percent of them Egyptian.
Egyptian officials have been invited to attend a ceremony in Russia next month to mark the start of the first phase construction.
Egypt signed the agreement with Rosatom to establish its first nuclear power plant, which is expected to cost around $4 billion.
Shaker said that Egypt is seeking to become a regional energy hub through electrical interconnections with many countries, including Saudi Arabia.
He said that the capacity of the connection with Saudi Arabia will reach between 2,000 megawatts and 3,000 megawatts.
The ministry is keen to increase the electrical interconnection capacities with Sudan, Libya and Jordan.
It has signed electrical interconnection agreements with the three countries, which currently amount to between 3,500 to 4,000 megawatts.
The electrical interconnection capacity with Sudan is set to increase to 300 megawatts within 16 months. it is expected to increase to 2,000 megawatts with Jordan.
