Egypt's first nuclear power plant is scheduled to be put into use in 2026

Although the coronavirus pandemic has postponed the large projects planned for Egypt this year, work on Egypt's first nuclear power project continues
as usual.

Ayman Hamza, a spokesman for the Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy, said in an interview: "This work is currently ongoing despite the coronavirus and the timeline for the Dabaa nuclear power plant project has not been modified
.
”

The Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant (NPP), located on Egypt's northwest coast and designed to diversify the country's energy sources, is being built
by Rosatom.

Cooperation between Russia and Egypt on nuclear power plants began in 2015, when the two countries signed an agreement requiring Russia to build Egypt's first nuclear power plant
.

Under the deal, Russia will lend Egypt $25 billion to cover 85 percent of its construction costs, while Egypt will provide the remaining funds
through private investors.

Rosatom will be responsible for building four VVER-1200 pressurized water reactors, each capable of producing 1,200 megawatts, for a total of 4,800 megawatts
.
The project will be owned and operated
by the Nuclear Power Plant Authority of the Egyptian Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy.

The first unit is expected to begin operation in 2026, and the remaining three reactors in 2028-2029
.

Hamza said that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the location has put in place a series of strict precautionary measures, including holding meetings
via video conference.

"Egyptian workers and Russian specialists working at the Dabaa base, or other foreign specialists at all bases under the Ministry, undergo a medical examination
every 14 days," he explained.
”

Hamza said work on the site began in three phases in 2017
.
"The first was the preparation site, which began in December 2017 and lasted 30 months
.
The second phase will commence construction after obtaining a construction permit, specifically including all work
related to construction, training and preparation for the commencement of operational testing.
The last one includes pre-operation testing and the official commissioning
of the unit.
”

Hamza, who did not give a date, said: "The Nuclear Power Plant Authority is working to obtain a construction permit
as soon as possible.
”

Meanwhile, Rosatom's subsidiary Atomstroyexport announced that three Egyptian contractors had won a tender
to build the first nuclear installation at the Dabaa plant.

The three winning contractors were Petrojet, Hassan Allam Holding and Arab Contractors Construction Company
.

According to Grigory Sosnin, vice president of Atomstroyexport, the company's priority in the Dabaa project is to involve 20 percent
of Egyptian companies in the first phase.
A number of other tenders will be conducted this year for the rest of the construction work, with the goal of reaching 35 per cent
Egypt's participation by the end of the works.

Experts praised the huge potential impact of the Dabaa project on the country's economy and provided guarantees
to prevent future crises triggered by power shortages.

Yousry Abushady, a former senior inspector at the IAEA, said the plant would generate enough electricity to meet Egypt's growing electricity demand
.

He added that the Dabaa project will increase Egypt's GDP not only by increasing the income of local contractors, but also by stimulating the growth of related industries such as building materials, equipment, machinery, facilities and other services, among other industries, providing 50,000 jobs
.

The Dabaa plant is not the only large-scale project
between Russia and Egypt.
There are many other important projects between the two countries, including the creation of a Russian industrial zone in the Suez Canal Economic Zone, which is expected to attract $7 billion in investment
.