Egypt has installed the dry shielding component for Unit 3 of the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, marking another milestone in the construction of the country’s first nuclear facility, the Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) said Friday.
The component was positioned inside the reactor cavity using specialised heavy cranes at elevations ranging from 4.850 to 10.025 metres, the authority said.
The installation was carried out in line with safety and quality standards and under the supervision of NPPA technical teams, with approvals from the Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority, it added.
The dry shielding is a key safety feature of the Russian-designed VVER-1200 Generation III+ reactor. It consists of a double-walled steel cylinder filled with heat- and radiation-resistant serpentinite concrete.
The cylinder weighs 28.85 tonnes before filling and has an outer diameter of 6.71 metres, an inner diameter of 5.65 metres and a height of 5.157 metres. Its total weight is about 128 tonnes, according to the NPPA.
The shielding is designed to reduce fast-neutron radiation, protect the reactor cavity’s concrete from heat and radiation, and safeguard nearby equipment during operation.
NPPA Chairman Sherif Helmy said the installation reflected Egypt’s commitment to international safety and quality standards, as well as the professionalism of its technical teams.
He added that construction was progressing steadily across all four units of the plant.
El Dabaa, being built in partnership with Russia, will comprise four VVER-1200 reactors with a combined capacity of 4,800 megawatts. The project is intended to support Egypt’s energy diversification, security and long-term sustainability goals.
