On July 4, the last segment of the third circular tier of the inner containment (IC) was installed in the design position at the second unit of El-Dabaa NPP in Egypt (general designer and general contractor - Engineering Division of Rosatom).
The IC is a cylindrical structure that will house the nuclear reactor and the equipment of the first circuit of the NPP. The third IC tier consists of twelve segments manufactured at the production facility on the construction site in Egypt. The third-tier segments are 9 meters high and weigh between 40 and 100 tons, depending on the structural fill. It should be noted that the third IC tier has the largest segment in the entire structure. It is 17 meters long, and the embedded part of the transport airlock of the reactor building will subsequently be mounted into it.
The installation of the third tier of the inner containment was completed within two weeks. The diameter of the third tier is 44 meters. About 50 specialists were involved in the installation of each of the segments. The installation was carried out using a heavy crane with a lifting capacity of 1350 tons.
On this occasion, Dr. Sherif Helmy – Chairman of the Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) – stated: “The completion of the installation of the third tier of the inner containment for Unit 2 of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant marks a significant milestone in the ongoing progress of this national project, which stands as a cornerstone of Egypt’s vision for a secure and sustainable energy future. This achievement reaffirms the Authority’s unwavering commitment to adhering to the approved project schedule and reflects the continuous efforts and precise coordination between all project stakeholders, foremost among them our partners from the Russian company Atomstroyexport. Accomplishing this progress in a record time of just two weeks would not have been possible without the high-level competence of the Egyptian workforce, the fruitful cooperation with the Russian side, and the diligent work of the installation, engineering, and design teams. This milestone also highlights the effectiveness of the Rosatom Production System (RPS), which serves as a benchmark for excellence in managing and executing major projects. With every new step forward, we move closer to realizing Egypt’s aspiration of owning a peaceful nuclear power plant that will contribute to diversifying energy sources, strengthening energy security, and driving sustainable development toward a brighter and more prosperous future.”
“Within two weeks, the reactor building of Power Unit two has grown by another 9 meters. Reaching the +29.150 mark witnesses of the consistent work based on the principles of the Rosatom production system. The RPS is our standard applicable to the stages from planning to execution. This year, we plan to install another tier of the internal containment, and each of our next steps is the result of the accumulated experience and RPS standards,” said Alexey Kononenko, Atomstroyexport JSC Vice President - Director for El-Dabaa NPP construction project.
El-Dabaa NPP is the first NPP in Egypt. It is being built in the city of
El-Dabaa, in the Matruh province on the Mediterranean coast, approximately 300
km. north-west from Cairo. The El-Dabaa NPP consists of four 1200 MW power
units equipped with Russian VVER-1200 pressurized water reactors of the latest
third generation; these reactors are state-of-the art technologies that have
been successfully operated at reference NPPs. El-Dabaa NPP is being constructed
in accordance with the package of contracts, which entered into force on
December 11, 2017. The Russian side will not only build the nuclear power
plant, but also supply nuclear fuel throughout the entire El-Dabaa NPP
operating life in accordance with its contractual obligations. The
Russian party is expected as well to assist Egyptian partners in training NPP
operating personnel at the stage of operation and maintenance during the first
ten years of the NPP operation. Besides, under a separate agreement, the
Russian party will build special storages and will supply special containers
for storing spent nuclear fuel.
Rosatom's Engineering Division includes the nuclear industry companies: Atomstroyexport (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, offices in Russia and abroad), Atomenergoproekt United Design Institute (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg design institutes, offices in Russia and abroad, survey facilities), and construction subsidiaries. The Engineering Division ranks first in the world in terms of its order portfolio and the number of nuclear power plants being simultaneously constructed in various countries. The Division gets approximately 80% of revenues from foreign projects. The Engineering Division implements projects on the construction of high-power NPPs in Russia and other countries. It provides a full range of EPC, EP, EPC(M) services, including design management and design, and develops Multi-D technologies to manage complex engineering facilities. The Division relies upon the achievements of the Russian nuclear power industry and innovative state-of-the-art technologies. ase-ec.ru