The Ed-Dabaa nuclear power plant in northern Egypt, being developed by Rosatom, has reached an important milestone as the first concrete pouring ceremony for the third power unit takes place. This marks the active phase of construction for that section of the facility, a development reported by state media and agencies. The event underscores the project’s progress as work proceeds on a site that is central to Egypt’s energy strategy and regional power capacity planning.
According to Alexander Korchagin, who serves as a senior vice president in the engineering division of the state company Rosatom’s Atomstroyexport, starting the third power unit signals that the overall project is gathering momentum. His remarks reflect a broader view that the program is moving from planning and foundational work into more expansive construction activities as multiple units advance in parallel.
Earlier milestones involved initiating the construction of the first and second units. With the third unit now entering its main construction phase, the project team emphasizes that this stage is a crucial step toward meeting design and schedule targets for the complete plant. Egypt’s long-term power development plan anticipates four reactor units at the Ed-Dabaa site, reflecting a strategic objective to diversify energy sources and enhance energy security for the region.
Korchagin noted that the VVER-1200 reactor designs being employed for the Ed-Dabaa project, developed by ASE as the engineering division of Rosatom, have become familiar through ongoing collaboration and established processes. Still, he acknowledged that every phase carries its own unique features and challenges, requiring careful adaptation to local conditions, supply chains, and regulatory requirements. The emphasis remains on maintaining safety, reliability, and efficiency as the project progresses, with technical teams coordinating across disciplines and borders.
Expressing gratitude for the cooperation with Egyptian partners, Korchagin highlighted the value of well-coordinated joint work. The collaboration aims to align technical execution with national energy objectives, ensuring that each milestone is met while upholding stringent quality standards and regulatory expectations. This partnership is presented as a foundational element in bringing the expansive plan for the Ed-Dabaa site to fruition and delivering a robust power generation capability for the country.
The Ed-Dabaa project is widely viewed as a milestone within Egypt’s energy landscape, signaling a shift toward large-scale nuclear power integration. As construction progresses on subsequent units, the program continues to emphasize safety, training, and local capacity development alongside the deployment of international best practices in engineering and project management. The broader objective remains to provide dependable baseload capacity and support a diversified energy mix designed to bolster economic growth and resilience.
Overall, the project team’s communications stress that progress is incremental yet steady. The milestone achieved with the third unit’s main construction phase exemplifies the disciplined approach required for a multi-unit, international nuclear initiative. Stakeholders anticipate that ongoing partnerships, technological expertise, and rigorous project controls will help ensure that the Ed-Dabaa plant contributes positively to Egypt’s energy future while adhering to global standards for nuclear safety and environmental stewardship.
As with similar projects worldwide, the Ed-Dabaa endeavor involves continuous assessment of site readiness, infrastructure integration, and supply-chain robustness. The long-term vision involves not only the operation of the four planned units but also the development of associated support facilities and workforce training programs to sustain safe and efficient plant operation over many decades. This holistic view reinforces the project’s potential to become a cornerstone of Egypt’s energy independence and regional energy collaboration, with ongoing oversight from international and national authorities to ensure compliance and accountability.
In summary, the Ed-Dabaa construction program is advancing through its defined phases with the third unit now entering the main build stage. While challenges always accompany large-scale nuclear projects, the collaboration between Rosatom, ASE, and Egyptian partners is steadily moving toward realizing a substantial increase in domestic power generation capacity, underpinned by proven reactor technology and a structured implementation framework that prioritizes safety, quality, and local capacity development.