Egypt’s nuclear dream realised with Russian technology

[The SC]

Egypt will enter 2016 with economic solutions for the provision of sustainable electricity through the nuclear plant, along with other projects to generate solar and wind power.

The government succeeded in realising the Egyptian dream of producing nuclear energy after a delay of 60 years since late president Gamal Abdel Nasser first spoke of it.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi was able to fulfil Abdel Nasser’s promise to citizens and signed the final contract for the first civilian nuclear power plant to produce electricity with Russia.

Egypt will enter 2016 with economic solutions for the provision of sustainable electricity through the nuclear plant, along with other projects to generate solar and wind power.

Egypt and Russia signed the final agreement to implement a nuclear power plant in September. The project is will be established in El-Dabaa with a capacity 4,800 MW. The Russian state company Rosatom, will begin the project early 2016.

Al-Sisi said the station will use third-generation technology and will include four nuclear reactors. The cost will be paid over 35 years, without burdening the state budget. Egyptian companies will also partake in the project and provide at least 20% domestic components.

According to Al-Sisi, the selection of Russia to build the station came after considering a number of offers from different companies. Egypt is committed to the Convention on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and the reactors will only be used to generate electricity, Al-Sisi said.

The Egyptian government’s hopes to generate nuclear electricity resurfaced in the 1980s. However, all plans were halted after the Chernobyl crisis in Ukraine. In 2006, discussions of the nuclear programme re-emerged but the plans never went public due to several challenges. Plans were then halted due to the turmoil in Egypt over the past four years.


The Ministry of Electricity and Rosatom signed a preliminary agreement to establish the nuclear power plant on 10 February during Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to Cairo. The final agreement was later signed in November in Al-Sisi’s presence.

Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker said the government will finalise all technical, financial, and technological agreements for the station with Rosatom in January.

The agreement includes building nuclear fuel storage facilities to supply the nuclear plant with the required nuclear fuel along the 60-year operational period, Shaker said. Rosatom will also manage nuclear waste, maintenance and operation, and training Egyptian experts.

The stations will be completely safe, especially since Rosatom will provide them with the VVER-1200 safety protocols to protect against internal and external factors and influences.

Shaker said the prices offered to Egypt were unprecedented with the same technologies. “Nuclear power is clean and will not emit any pollution gasses or cause global warming,” he said.

Shaker said the station will greatly impact the economy, and will be safeguarded against the effects of hurricanes, sand-laden dust storms, earthquakes, volcanoes, or tsunamis.

Rosatom announced a few days ago that it will finalise all negotiations to build four nuclear plants in Egypt at a total cost of $26bn in January.

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2015/12/...-with-russian-technology-after-60-year-delay/

 

[The SC]

According to a spokesperson for Rosatom, Russia’s state-owned nuclear firm, Egypt’s first nuclear plant will be built at Dabaa in the north of the country, Reuters reported. It is expected to be completed by 2022.

Speaking on state TV, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah al-Sisi said the project would involve building a “third-generation” plant with four reactors. Each of the reactors is expected to have a capacity of 1,200 megawatts.

While the value of the deal is not clear, Sisi said the loan from Russia would be paid off over 35 years.

“The state’s budget will not shoulder any of the cost of building this station. Rather, the cost will be repaid out of the real energy production that will be generated from the station,” he said, according to a statement on Egypt’s State Information Service.

Egyptian companies will implement no less than 20% of the project, the president noted.

Sergey Kiriyenko, general director of Rosatom, said the Dabaa nuclear plant will be the largest Russian-Egyptian project since the Aswan High Dam and will mark a “new chapter” in bilateral relations between the countries.

“The plant will make Egypt the regional leader in the field of nuclear technologies and the only country in the region that will have a generation 3+ plant,” Rosatom’s press service quoted Kiriyenko as saying.

http://meconstructionnews.com/10128/egypt-russia-sign-deal-to-build-nuclear-plant



Dabaa nuclear plant contracts on Al-Sisi’s desk next week

Government agreed with Russia on depleted fuel stores, technical support contracts

The government has finished negotiations with Russia on the contracts for depleted fuel depots, operation, maintenance, and technical support for the Dabaa nuclear plant. The contracts will be sent to President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi next week to determine the date of signing the contracts.

Sources said that the agreements include giving Egypt the right to keep fuel depleted throughout the operational life of the nuclear reactor for the possibility of reuse if a new technology emerges with possible benefits.

The agreements also stipulate that Russia supplies nuclear fuel to the plant for a period of 60 years on international prices. If Russia breaks the contract, Egypt will then have the right to obtain the fuel from other countries.

The sources pointed out that Russia will supply nuclear fuel to the project at prices lower than the current global prices that are currently standing at 0.7 cents, as the price of fuel is determined by several factors, including the cost of manufacturing.

The steering committee for negotiations with Russia includes representatives of the ministries of electricity, defense, interior, oil, finance, and environment, as well as a number of agencies and sovereign bodies.

In March, Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker announced the signing of the main establishment and fuel supply contracts, leaving the technical support, operation, maintenance, and depleted fuel depots contracts.

The sources said that it was agreed on for technical support and maintenance that an Egyptian team will be sent to Russia for training, in addition to the presence of Russian experts at the site of Dabaa to guide the operation of reactors and provide documentation of maintenance and supply of nuclear reactor parts for ten years.


According to the agreement with Russia, 2,000 technicians and engineers will be trained to operate and maintain the nuclear power plant and provide expertise and knowledge during the construction period, either through the design or operation of the project.

The sources said that a committee headed by the Military Production Ministry will coordinate with Russia about the local companies that will work in the nuclear project. The Ministry of Military Production is preparing a list of Egyptian companies to participate in the local component of the Dabaa nuclear plant, including civil works and electricity connections.

The sources pointed to the agreement with Russia that exempts the equipment and machines from customs, in accordance with the law on the establishment of nuclear power plants.

The sources said that it was agreed to implement the cost-escalation agreement starting from the current month, having already been postponed for four months. This agreement indicates the changes on the cost of services and goods in a specific economic framework over a specified period of time.

Egypt signed an agreement with Russia to establish a nuclear power plant in Dabaa with a capacity of 4,800 MW for $30bn.

Russia will provide a governmental loan to Egypt worth $25bn.

The loan is used to finance 85% of the value of each contract to implement works, services, and shipments of the project. The Egyptian side will pay the remaining amount, representing 15% in the form of instalments. The amount will be paid to the benefit of the authorised Russian institutions in a way that suits the contracts, in the form of an advance or any payment that is made later after implementing works and services and delivering supplies. The term of the loan is 13 years over the period from 2016 until 2028, at a 3% annual interest rate.

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2017/06/11/dabaa-nuclear-plant-contracts-al-sisis-desk-next-week/



State Council reviews Dabaa nuclear plant contracts before Al-Sisi ratifies them

Presidency organizes inauguration ceremony in presence of Putin

The State Council is set to review the contracts for the Dabaa nuclear plant. The contracts have been drafted and both governments; Egyptian and Russian have agreed on all the contractual clauses and presented a detailed report to President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi.

According to government sources, the State Council will review four contracts; main establishment, fuel supply, operation, technical support, and exhausted fuel stores. Two contracts have already been reviewed before, but the State Council will review all four contracts again before sending them to the president to ratify them.

Sources said that the presidency will organize a grand celebration in Cairo, attended by Russian President Vladimir Putin, a number of scientists, experts, public figures, and participants in negotiations with Moscow, to announce the signing of the contract for the nuclear plant and inaugurate the project.

The sources explained that after the signing of the contracts, a number of Russians will review the designs and coordinates of the project site before obtaining permission for construction.

They added that there are still negotiations around establishing an executive body to manage the nuclear plant and as well as some controversy around the presence of the Nuclear Power Plants Authority and the Supreme Council for Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy.

Judge Ahmed Abul Azm, deputy head of State Council, said in previous remarks that the law for establishing an executive body for the management of nuclear power plants has been resorted to by the legislator after the emergence of an urgent need to establish a new apparatus to oversee the contract for the construction of the nuclear plant until they are delivered to the Nuclear Power Plants Authority as owner and operator of power plants.

Egypt signed an agreement with Russia to establish a nuclear power plant in Dabaa with a capacity of 4,800 MW for $30bn.

Russia will provide a government loan of $25bn to finance equipment and services for construction and operation.

The loan will be used to finance 85% of the value of each contract to implement works, services, and shipments of the project. The Egyptian side will pay the remaining amount, representing 15%, in the form of installments. The amount will be paid for the benefit of the authorised Russian institutions in a way that suits the contracts, through an advance or any payment that is made later after implementing works and services and delivering supplies. The term of the loan is 13 years over the period from 2016 until 2028, at a 3% annual interest rate.

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2017/07/...baa-nuclear-plant-contracts-al-sisi-ratifies/

Thursday July 13, 2017
Egypt, Russia to sign final contracts for $30bn Dabaa nuclear power plant within 2 months

https://dailynewsegypt.com/2017/05/...bn-dabaa-nuclear-power-plant-within-2-months/

 

[dani191]

where do they have 30 bilion dollar to pay?

 

[Gomig-21]

where do they have 30 bilion dollar to pay?

Can't confirm or deny that the plant will make Egypt the regional leader in the field of nuclear technologies and the only country in the region that will have a generation 3+ plant....

 

[Hyperion]

Regional leader in what sense - generation capacity?

Can't confirm or deny that the plant will make Egypt the regional leader in the field of nuclear technologies and the only country in the region that will have a generation 3+ plant....

 

[dani191]

Regional leader in what sense - generation capacity?

yes they lead in defence tech and space look there industry

 

[Hyperion]

I have absolutely no idea where Egypt stands viz-a-viz R&D, hence the question.

yes they lead in defence tech and space look there industry

 

[dani191]

I have absolutely no idea where Egypt stands viz-a-viz R&D, hence the question.

viz-a viz?

 

[Gomig-21]

Regional leader in what sense - generation capacity?

It was just a sarcastic reply to dani191 aka theman911 aka coldman who's obsessed with Egypt's financing and defense industry and in reference to how Israel never confirms or denies it's nukes.

The quote is mentioned in the article:

“The plant will make Egypt the regional leader in the field of nuclear technologies and the only country in the region that will have a generation 3+ plant,” Rosatom’s press service quoted Kiriyenko as saying."

Whether it's true or not remains to be seen, I guess.

I have absolutely no idea where Egypt stands viz-a-viz R&D, hence the question.

Could be greatly improved, there's no question about that. It's had many opportunities but always manages to focus its priorities elsewhere, regardless of the political turmoil it has endured in the past 6 years. It had ample opportunities within the previous 30 years to really improve in many directions, but it has a strong habit of stagnation and holds on to its stubbornness of sticking with the "comfortable methods." We're starting to see some changes in philosophy but not enough. Everything points to keeping things going in the same direction and relying more on purchases because of cost efficiency and speed. At least that seems to be what I see. It's never too late, but the ship has sailed a while ago and it would take a lot of effort to just lag behind, at this point, let alone catch up with many in the region. There is hope, though.

 

[GOLDENEAGLE1]

Does the chimp stand on a Sedjadah here or what?

@HAKIKAT @Dai Toruko what's going on here?

 

[Hyperion]

From an outsiders pov, I feel as if it's your military which has/had it's fingers in every hole of civilian enterprises for the past four / five decades, and the worst part was that it had been taking it's orders from Uncle Sam........ furthermore, you as a nation have....................... let me put it mildly, a population that is subdued rather easily......... if you ask of me that if you have a chance of getting into a nuclear race, of any sort (military non military), with anyone, NO...... but it's not bad to start somewhere....... all the best of luck.

Could be greatly improved, there's no question about that. It's had many opportunities but always manages to focus its priorities elsewhere, regardless of the political turmoil it has endured in the past 6 years. It had ample opportunities within the previous 30 years to really improve in many directions, but it has a strong habit of stagnation and holds on to its stubbornness of sticking with the "comfortable methods." We're starting to see some changes in philosophy but not enough. Everything points to keeping things going in the same direction and relying more on purchases because of cost efficiency and speed. At least that seems to be what I see. It's never too late, but the ship has sailed a while ago and it would take a lot of effort to just lag behind, at this point, let alone catch up with many in the region. There is hope, though.

 

[The SC]

Can't confirm or deny that the plant will make Egypt the regional leader in the field of nuclear technologies and the only country in the region that will have a generation 3+ plant....

It is confirmed in the first article with source..

Does the chimp stand on a Sedjadah here or what?

@HAKIKAT @Dai Toruko what's going on here?

It is a Persian or Turkish carpet or maybe an Egyptian one, they come in all sizes..why do you see only the negatives, that is not good, you should try to be positive, at least some times..

From an outsiders pov, I feel as if it's your military which has/had it's fingers in every hole of civilian enterprises for the past four / five decades, and the worst part was that it had been taking it's orders from Uncle Sam........ furthermore, you as a nation have....................... let me put it mildly, a population that is subdued rather easily......... if you ask of me that if you have a chance of getting into a nuclear race, of any sort (military non military), with anyone, NO...... but it's not bad to start somewhere....... all the best of luck.

Egypt has started its nuclear program in ~1955 and progressive work was done on and off, but the scientific base is already there for a very long time..

 

[Mitho1980]

Congratulations. With all the wealth and resources its still a dream for all Muslim countries to become a nuclear power..
They should learn something form us.
Proud to be a Pakistani.

 

[The SC]

Congratulations. With all the wealth and resources its still a dream for all Muslim countries to become a nuclear power..
They should learn something form us.
Proud to be a Pakistani.

Yes it is good that at least Pakistan had become a civilian nuclear power with it weapons component.. Now Egypt, Jordan, The UAE and KSA are following suite to become civilian nuclear powers.. Iran did it and Turkey will also become a civilian nuclear power in the near future.. Indonesia and Malaysia are also on their way to civilian nuclear plants, while Morocco and Algeria have developing plans..

 

[Gomig-21]

From an outsiders pov, I feel as if it's your military which has/had it's fingers in every hole of civilian enterprises for the past four / five decades, and the worst part was that it had been taking it's orders from Uncle Sam........

Are you implying that it's not doing that anymore? Am I understanding you correctly?

furthermore, you as a nation have....................... let me put it mildly, a population that is subdued rather easily.........

Would you call the revolution by the same Egyptian people in 2011 "a population that is subdued rather easily?"

if you ask of me that if you have a chance of getting into a nuclear race, of any sort (military non military), with anyone, NO...... but it's not bad to start somewhere.......

What "nuclear race?" Who would we be racing against? This is a contract for a nuclear energy power plant. It has nothing to do with a nuclear race of any kind with any one. The comment about being a regional leader in nuclear technologies was a quote by the Russian rep, nothing more.

This would be a great improvement to the old Aswan Dam and a much better source for energy production. There's no nuclear weapons production happening here, let alone some nuclear race of any kind.