On October 21, the reactor pressure vessel for Unit 1 was delivered to
the El-Dabaa NPP construction site in the Arab Republic of Egypt (the general
designer and general contractor is Engineering Division of Rosatom).
The reactor pressure vessel is a key element of the nuclear power plant, inside of which the core is located and the controlled nuclear fusion chain reaction takes place in the fuel. It ensures leak-tightness, can endure high pressure and temperature, and is integral to the safety and reliability of the power unit.
The equipment was manufactured at Izhora plant of Mechanical Engineering Division of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom and weighs over 330 tons. The personnel of the Nuclear Power Plants Authority of Egypt, the owner and future operator of El-Dabaa NPP, attended control points during the manufacturing of the reactor pressure vessel to ensure compliance with quality assurance and processes.
The reactor pressure vessel was transported by a sea vessel that left the port of St. Petersburg on October 1 and covered the distance to the construction site in 20 days.
“The reactor pressure vessel for Unit 1 of El-Dabaa NPP was delivered to the construction site via the docking facility constructed by the Egyptian Party to receive large and oversized equipment for the El-Dabaa NPP. The reactor pressure vessel is scheduled to be installed in Unit 1 mid-November and our teams are working relentlessly towards the achievement of this key project milestone” – stated Dr. Sherif Helmy, Board Chairman of the Nuclear Power Plants Authority.
“Today we have witnessed an important milestone in the implementation of El-Dabaa NPP construction project: delivery of the reactor pressure vessel to the construction site. The result achieved reflects efficient cooperation of our international team. We are now standing at the threshold of the main production event of the year, which is installation of the reactor pressure vessel of Unit 1 in its design position. The entire team is united by a common goal, mobilized and result-oriented,” noted Alexey Kononenko, Atomstroyexport JSC Vice President - Director for El-Dabaa NPP Construction Project.
The El-Dabaa NPP is the first nuclear power plant in Egypt, which is
being built in the city of El-Dabaa (Matrouh province) on the Mediterranean
coast, approximately 300 km North-West of Cairo. The NPP consists of four 1200
MW power units equipped with Russian VVER-1200 pressurized water reactors of
the latest III+ generation. These reactors are state-of-the art technologies
that have been successfully operated at reference NPPs. The El-Dabaa NPP is
being constructed in accordance with the package of contracts, which entered
into force on December 11, 2017. In accordance with the contractual
obligations, the Russian Party will not only construct the NPP but will also
supply nuclear fuel for the operating life of the NPP and will provide
assistance to the Egyptian partners in training of the personnel at the
operation and maintenance stages during the first 10 years of NPP operation.
Besides, under a separate agreement, the Russian Party will build special
storages and will supply special containers for storing spent nuclear fuel.
The Engineering Division of State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom unites the leading companies of the nuclear industry, namely: Atomstroyexport JSC (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, branches in Russia and abroad), Joint Design Institute - Atomenergoproekt JSC (Moscow, Nizhny Novgorod, St. Petersburg branches - design institutes, branches in Russia and abroad, R&D branches) and subsidiary construction organizations. The Engineering Division ranks first in the world by the order portfolio and the number of NPPs constructed simultaneously across the world. About 80% of the Division’s revenues originate from foreign projects. The Engineering Division implements construction projects for high-power NPPs in Russia and across the world, renders a full range of EPC, EP, EPC(M) services including project management and design activities, and develops Multi-D technologies for the management of complex engineering facilities. The Division relies on the achievements of the Russian nuclear industry and modern cutting-edge technologies. www.ase-ec.ru
