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El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant

Marsa Matruh, Egypt

2025 - Ongoing

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Project Description

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El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant is a large-scale development initiative located 250 square kilometers west of Alexandria, Egypt.¹ It is the country’s first nuclear power plant, designed with a capacity of 4.8 GW through four VVER-1200 reactors.² The project was first announced in 2006, with construction commencing in 2022.³ The project vision to power Egypt’s future with safe and sustainable source of energy, ensuring a stable electricity supply for the future generations.⁴ It aims to supply 10% of Egypt’s electricity needs,⁵ contribute to energy diversification, and position Egypt as a nuclear energy producer, with commercial operations scheduled between 2026 and 2030.⁶

To implement the objectives, the project integrates several key components:⁷

Four VVER-1200 nuclear reactors, each producing 1,200 MW.⁸
Marine infrastructure, including construction of a breakwater.⁹
Supporting facilities designed with a lifespan of 60 years.¹⁰

El Dabaa project represents an investment of approximately $30 billion, deploying advanced Russian nuclear technology.¹¹ Its reactors incorporate enhanced safety systems and modern design specifications.¹² From a sustainability perspective, the plant reduces carbon emissions by 14 million tons annually, while delivering clean, renewable energy equivalent to 10% of national electricity consumption.

Implementation is led by major stakeholders, with Russia’s Rosatom serving as the main developer and Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) as the owner.¹³ ¹⁴ In addition, Arab Contractors has been awarded contracts worth about $418 million for marine works.¹⁵ Construction is being carried out in phases, with Unit 1 planned to begin operations in 2028, followed by subsequent units in 2029.¹⁶ The project is currently advancing through regulatory approvals and milestones achievement.¹⁷

Upon completion, El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant is expected to transform Egypt’s energy sector by expanding clean electricity generation capacity and establishing the country’s long-term nuclear energy infrastructure.¹⁸

Project Link, Endnotes and References

Project Link

Endnotes

References

Power Technology. ‘Project profile: El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, Egypt’. (2018). Power Technology Magazine. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://power.nridigital.com/power_technology_nov18_special/project_profile_el_dabaa_nuclear_power_plant_egypt>
Power Technology. ‘El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant’. (2023). Power Technology. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.power-technology.com/projects/el-dabaa-nuclear-power-plant/>
World Nuclear Association. ‘Nuclear Power in Egypt’. (2025). Information Library. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://world-nuclear.org/information-library/country-profiles/countries-a-f/egypt>
EgyptToday. ‘Localizing systems of Egypt’s peaceful nuclear energy program tops ministry’s priorities: Electricity minister’. (2025). Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.egypttoday.com/Article/3/142503/Localizing-systems-of-Egypt-s-peaceful-nuclear-energy-program-tops>
Energy Central. ‘Egypt Begins $30B Nuclear Plant at El Dabaa’. (2024). Energy Central. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.energycentral.com/energy-biz/post/egypt-begins-30b-nuclear-plant-el-dabaa-africas-second-facility-4iAzcyTXinPThxS>
IAEA. ‘Egypt 2022 – Publications – International Atomic Energy Agency’. (2022). IAEA Country Nuclear Power Profiles. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/cnpp2022/countryprofiles/Egypt/Egypt.htm>
Power Technology. ‘El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant’. (2023). Power Technology. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.power-technology.com/projects/el-dabaa-nuclear-power-plant/>
Power Technology. ‘Rosatom to build $30bn El Dabaa nuclear power station in Egypt’. (2017). Power Technology. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.power-technology.com/news/rosatom-build-30bn-el-dabaa-nuclear-power-station-egypt/>
Arab Contractors Company. ‘The Arab Contractors and Russian Rosatom sign cooperation agreement for El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant’. (2024). Arab Contractors. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.arabcont.com/english/Release-2024-2068>
Power Technology. ‘El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant’. (2023). Power Technology. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.power-technology.com/projects/el-dabaa-nuclear-power-plant/>
Power Technology. ‘Rosatom to build $30bn El Dabaa nuclear power station in Egypt’. (2017). Power Technology. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.power-technology.com/news/rosatom-build-30bn-el-dabaa-nuclear-power-station-egypt/>
Power Technology. ‘El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant’. (2023). Power Technology. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.power-technology.com/projects/el-dabaa-nuclear-power-plant/>
Nuclear Power Plants Authority. ‘El Dabaa will be Egypt’s first nuclear power plant’. (2024). NPPA Official Website. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://nppa.gov.eg/News/Details?id=2150>
Nucnet. ‘South Korea’s KHNP Wins $2.25 Billion El Dabaa Contract from Russia’. (2022). Nucnet. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.nucnet.org/news/south-korea-s-khnp-wins-usd2-25-billion-el-dabaa-contract-from-russia-8-2-2022>
Arab Contractors Company. ‘The Arab Contractors and Russian Rosatom sign cooperation agreement for El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant’. (2024). Arab Contractors. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.arabcont.com/english/Release-2024-2068>
Ahram Online. ‘Dabaa Nuclear Plant’s 1st unit to start operations in H2 2028’. (2025). Ahram Online. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://english.ahram.org.eg/News/550125.aspx>
World Nuclear News. ‘El Dabaa project reports on construction progress’. (2024). World Nuclear News. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/el-dabaa-project-reports-progress-on-construction>
Energy Central. ‘Egypt Begins $30B Nuclear Plant at El Dabaa’. (2024). Energy Central. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.energycentral.com/energy-biz/post/egypt-begins-30b-nuclear-plant-el-dabaa-africas-second-facility-4iAzcyTXinPThxS>
Nuclear Power Plants Authority. ‘El Dabaa will be Egypt’s first nuclear power plant’. (2024). NPPA Official Website. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://nppa.gov.eg/News/Details?id=2150>
NEI Magazine. ‘El Dabaa financing agreement approved’. (2025). Nuclear Engineering International. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.neimagazine.com/news/el-dabaa-financing-agreement-approved/>
Nucnet. ‘South Korea’s KHNP Wins $2.25 Billion El Dabaa Contract from Russia’. (2022). Nucnet. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.nucnet.org/news/south-korea-s-khnp-wins-usd2-25-billion-el-dabaa-contract-from-russia-8-2-2022>
World Nuclear News. ‘Work begins on El Dabaa 2’s inner containment building’. (2024). World Nuclear News. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/articles/work-begins-on-el-dabaa-2s-inner-containment-building>
Nuclear Business Platform. ‘Africa’s Nuclear Dream: Who’ll Fund 700M Souls and $200 Billion Investment’. (2025). Nuclear Business Platform. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.nuclearbusiness-platform.com/media/insights/africa-nuclear-dream>
Power Technology. ‘El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant’. (2023). Power Technology. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.power-technology.com/projects/el-dabaa-nuclear-power-plant/>
Arab Contractors Company. ‘The Arab Contractors and Russian Rosatom sign cooperation agreement for El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant’. (2024). Arab Contractors. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www.arabcont.com/english/Release-2024-2068>
International Atomic Energy Agency. ‘IAEA-TECDOC-1750/Rev. 1’. (2023). IAEA Technical Documents. Retrieved September 30, 2025, from <https://www-pub.iaea.org/MTCD/publications/PDF/TE-1750_Rev1web.pdf>

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