On October 6, the installation of the “core catcher” for Unit 1 of the El-Dabaa NPP in the Arab Republic of Egypt started (the general designer and general contractor is Rosatom Engineering Division). The core catcher is one of the main passive safety systems of the power unit. It is included a unique equipment specific to modern nuclear power units with VVER-1200 generation III+ reactors.
A ceremony was held to commemorate the commencement of the core catcher installation in the attendance of Dr. Amged El-Wakeel, Board Chairman of the Nuclear Power Plants Authority of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Eng. Mohamed Ramadan Badawy, Vice Board Chairman for Operation and Maintenance, Nuclear Power Plants Authority of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Dr. Mohammed Dwiddar, Project Manager of El-Dabaa NPP Project, Nuclear Power Plants Authority of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Mr. Alexey Zhukov, ASE JSC First Vice President for Construction; Mr. Alexey Kononenko, ASE JSC Vice President – Director of El-Dabaa NPP Construction Project.
“Please allow me to congratulate both teams on the commencement of installation of the core catcher for Unit 1 of the El-Dabaa NPP, another key milestone for the project which is the result of continuous and untiring efforts since the commencement of its manufacturing in the Russian Federation in July 2021. The core catcher for Unit 1 is the first long lead equipment to be delivered to the site earlier this year on March 21 and the commencement of its installation coincides with the 50th anniversary of the 6th of October great victory day, a historic moment for the Egyptian people.” Stated Dr. Amged El-Wakeel, Board Chairman of the Nuclear Power Plants Authority.
“By installing the core catcher at Unit 1 we achieved another milestone in the development of El-Dabaa NPP project. It is the first long lead equipment to be installed in our project. It would have been impossible to reach this important milestone without the close and continuous cooperation of the Owner and the General Contractor. The arrival and installation of the core catcher for Unit 2 are also scheduled to take place by the end of this year”, Alexey Kononenko noted.
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El-Dabaa NPP is the first nuclear power plant in Egypt which will be built in the city of El-Dabaa, Matrouh province, on the Mediterranean coast, approximately 300 km North-West of Cairo. The NPP will consist of four power units, 1200 MW each, with VVER-1200 reactors (pressurized water reactor) of generation III+ . This is the latest generation technology, which has references and is already operating successfully. There are four operational power units of this generation: two reactors at Novovoronezh NPP and two at Leningrad NPP. Outside Russia, one power unit of Belarus NPP with VVER-1200 reactor was connected to the grid in November 2020.
The implementation of the NPP is underway in accordance with the package of contracts, which entered into force on December 11, 2017. In accordance with the contractual obligations, the Russian party will not only construct the power plant but will also supply nuclear fuel for the whole life cycle of the NPP and will provide assistance to the Egyptian partners in training of the personnel and support of operation and service of the plant during the first 10 years of its operation. Under a separate agreement, the Russian party will build a special storage and will supply containers for storing spent nuclear fuel.
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