On October 25, 2023, the Core Catcher for Unit 2 has been successfully delivered to the construction site of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in the Arab Republic of Egypt (its General Designer and General Contractor being the Engineering Division of the State Corporation Rosatom).
The Core Catcher is one of the main passive safety systems of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant and it is part of the most advanced technology for VVER-1200 generation III+ reactors.
The shipment carrying the three main components of the Core Catcher departed from the Russian Federation on October 17, 2023. The total weight of the cargo is 455 tons and it was delivered ahead of schedule.
“Today another key event has taken place for our project, with the delivery of a long lead equipment to the construction site of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant. The installation works related to the Core Catcher for Unit 1 commenced earlier this month and the installation of the Core Catcher for Unit 2 is scheduled to take place before the end of the year. These achievements are the result of the well-coordinated work of Atomstroyexport JSC, the EPC Contractor and the Nuclear Power Plants Authority, the Owner.” said Alexey Kononenko, ASE JSC Vice President – Project Director for the construction of the El-Dabaa NPP.
“We are pleased to celebrate another key achievement for our landmark project with the arrival of the Core Catcher for Unit 2 to the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant site. Our team successfully completed the inspections and acceptance tests related to this long-lead equipment in the Russian Federation prior to its shipment to Egypt. Earlier this year, the Nuclear Power Plans Authority, in conjunction with other stakeholders, completed all infrastructure works required to deliver heavy and oversized equipment of the Nuclear Power Plant by way of constructing and operating a docking facility at the construction site. We look forward to continuing the successful implementation of the Project in accordance with the time schedules.” said Eng. Mohamed Ramadan Badawy, Vice Board Chairman for Operation and Maintenance, General Supervisor of the El-Dabaa NPP Project, Nuclear Power Plants Authority.
For reference:
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 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 its whole life cycle 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.
Communications Unit of Rosatom Engineering Division
For reference:
Rosatom Engineering Division unites the leading companies of the nuclear industry, namely: JSC Atomstroyexport (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, branches in Russia and abroad), Joint Design Institute - JSC Atomenergoproekt (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg branches - design institutes, branches in Russia and abroad, R&D branches) and subsidiary construction organizations.
The Engineering Division ranks first in the world by the order portfolio and the number of NPPs constructed simultaneously across the world.
About 80% of the Division’s revenues originate from foreign projects.
The Engineering Division implements construction projects for high-power NPPs in Russia and across the world, renders a full range of EPC, EP, EPC(M) services including project management and design activities, and develops Multi-D technologies for the management of complex engineering facilities. The Division relies on the achievements of the Russian nuclear industry and modern cutting-edge technologies.
We construct reliable and safe NPPs with III+Gen VVER reactors that are in line with all international requirements and recommendations.