At the beginning of March, a vessel with three main components of the corium localization device – the core catcher – left the port of St. Petersburg for the construction site of El-Dabaa NPP Unit 1 (the general designer and the general construction is Rosatom State Corporation Engineering Division). The core catcher components have been manufactured by Tyazhmash JSC, which specializes in fabrication of this type of equipment. The loaded equipment includes the casing, the filler and the maintenance platform of the core catcher. The diameter of the casing is 6 120 meters, its height is 6 101 mm and its weight is 744 000 kg.
“The shipment of the first core catcher for El-Dabaa NPP is a significant event for our whole team, – said Roman Larionov, Director General of Tyazhmash JSC. – This project is one of the largest and strategically important in modern history of our company. The work is being performed for four power units simultaneously, the equipment is locally manufactured, and the requirements for the order are very strict. We appreciate the trust on behalf of both Rosatom State Corporation and the Egyptian Owner. We are doing our best to perform the work with high quality in accordance with the established schedule”.
“The largest Russian-Egyptian project for the construction of the first NPP in the region is implemented strictly in accordance with the time schedule. I am confident that the work which we will perform in partnership with our Egyptian colleagues in the next few years, will bring our teams even closer and will strengthen the friendly relations between our countries”, said Alexander Korchagin, Senior Vice President for NPP Construction Projects Management of Atomstroyexport JSC.
Russia is consistently developing international trade and economic relations, focusing on cooperation with friendly countries. Despite external restrictions, the domestic economy is growing its export potential and supplies goods, services and raw materials all over the world.
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The core catcher is one of the main elements of the power unit passive safety system, it is part of all the up-to-date nuclear power units with VVER-1200 reactors of generation 3+. It is a unique know-how of Russian nuclear experts which ensures the safety of the environment and the people in any scenarios of the NPP operation. The catcher is a container in the shape of a steel cone, which, in case of an emergency, securely retains the fragments of the molten core and prevents their escape beyond the reactor building containment. During the NPP operation, the core catcher is filled with special materials, when interacting with them, the core loses part of its accumulated heat.
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 III+ generation. This is the newest 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 NPP is being constructed 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 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.
Tyazhmash JSC is one of the largest machine building companies in Russia. The company was founded in 1941. It manufactures a wide scope of equipment demanded at thermal, hydro and nuclear power plants, metallurgical and mining companies, in shipbuilding and space vehicle launching sites. Currently Tyazhmash JSC continues to fabricate the remaining equipment for the core catcher of El-Dabaa NPP Unit 1. In total, Tyazhmash JSC will ship four similar pieces of equipment to Egypt. Besides, Tyazhmash JSC will equip each of the four power units with polar cranes and reactor shaft systems.
