Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi on Wednesday witnessed the launch of installation works for the containment structure of the first reactor unit at the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin joining the event via videoconference.
The ceremony opened with a documentary titled “Energy Shaping the Future,” highlighting the Dabaa plant as the largest power-generation project in Africa.
Presidential Spokesman Mohamed El-Shenawy said Tuesday that the event coincides with Egypt’s fifth annual Nuclear Energy Day, marked on November 19 to commemorate the signing of the intergovernmental agreement between Egypt and Russia to build and operate the Dabaa plant; a symbolic milestone for Egypt’s peaceful nuclear program.
Rosatom Director General Alexey Likhachev praised the historic step of installing the containment structure of the first reactor unit at Egypt’s Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, stressing that the project is among the country’s most significant industrial undertakings.
Delivering remarks during the ceremony, Likhachev expressed his deep appreciation for having joined Electricity Minister Mahmoud Essmat in late September for the official launch of the plant’s structural works.
He described the start of installing the containment structure as a “crucial” phase to ensure all safety standards and the stable operation of the reactor, noting that plant security and verification of safety criteria lie at the heart of its mission.
Likhachev said the reactor is the third of its kind on the African continent, adding that work is underway on 222 additional facilities within the Dabaa complex.
He highlighted that foundational work has been completed across various sections that support the plant’s operations, including the reactor itself, pointing out that more than 17,000 Egyptians are currently contributing to the project.
The Rosatom chief added that the goal is for Dabaa to become not only a source of safe and clean energy, but also a powerful boost to Egypt’s industrial output, praising the strong cooperation between Rosatom and the International Atomic Energy Agency.
He emphasized that the plant would not have been possible without the close partnership between Egypt and Russia and the support both countries have extended to nuclear energy worldwide, expressing gratitude to Presidents Vladimir Putin and Abdel Fattah El Sisi for backing the cooperation.
