Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) has rejected what it described as inaccurate and biased claims in a report published by Politico about the country’s Dabaa nuclear power project.
In a statement, the authority said the report lacked objectivity, distorted technical and regulatory facts for political purposes and failed to provide the necessary context. It added that neither the authority nor the Russian contractor had issued a formal response because of what it called the article’s lack of professionalism. Instead, the Russian side provided the journalist with a detailed technical response.
The authority said Dabaa, on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, is currently the world’s largest nuclear project under construction, involving around 25,000 specialists.
It said that engineering observations or concrete defects identified during construction were normal in projects of such scale and were addressed early through non-conformance reports and corrective procedures. No construction phase, it added, was approved before remediation and testing were completed.
The project is subject to stringent, multi-layered safety and occupational health standards, with continuous oversight by Egypt’s Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority, the statement said.
It also cited support from the International Atomic Energy Agency, saying its inspection missions had confirmed the strength of Egypt’s regulatory framework and its high level of preparedness. The authority referred to an Integrated Regulatory Review Service mission in June 2026 and said IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi had praised the standards applied during the installation of reactor pressure vessels for the first two units in November 2025 and July 2026.
The four Russian-designed Generation III+ reactors feature passive safety systems that can operate using natural forces without electricity, according to the authority. Their design includes a core catcher and a double-walled containment structure designed to withstand the impact of a 400-tonne commercial aircraft, as well as earthquakes, tsunamis and hurricanes.
Four steam generators and a pressuriser for the first unit have arrived at the site and are expected to be installed before the end of the year, the authority said.
It added that strict security procedures governed access to the facility and that unauthorised activities, including photography, were dealt with under Egyptian law.
The authority said construction was progressing ahead of schedule, with continued political support.
