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Tag: Rosatom

  • Rosatom prepares to launch two tenders for construction work in Dabaa nuclear plant

    Rosatom prepares to launch two tenders for construction work in Dabaa nuclear plant

    Russia’s Rosatom is preparing to launch two tenders to implement the construction work of the Dabaa nuclear plant, according to Anatolos Kovatnov, the head of engineering work in the Dabaa nuclear project.

    He added that the company expects a transition period which includes the provision of permits. The company has submitted all the documents required, and hopes to obtain the permits to establish the first unit of the Dabaa nuclear plant by 2020.

    Furthermore, Kovatnov explained that Rosatom has signed contracts to implement nuclear plants with several countries for over $100bn. The most prominent projects currently under implementation are located in Egypt, Hungary, and Bangladesh.

    Moreover, Kovatnov added that the construction work in the first nuclear reactor of a capacity of 1200MW will start in July 2020, and operation will start in 2026. As for the second reactor, its construction will start in January 2021, and operation will start in August 2026.

    He further stated that the construction work of the third reactor of a capacity of 1200MW will start in January 2022, and operation will start in August 2027. In addition, the construction of the fourth reactor of a capacity of 1200MW will start in July 2022, and operation will start in February 2028.

  • Rosatom prepares to launch construction tender for Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant

    Rosatom prepares to launch construction tender for Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant

    Russian state energy corporation Rosatom is preparing to launch an international tender for the implementation of construction work of the Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant, while contracting with the winning companies will take place in July.

    Sources at Rosatom told Daily News Egypt that the winning companies will handle the project’s construction work as well as the establishment of its infrastructure. In addition, they will also handle constructing temporary roads for the project, as well as administrative offices and accommodation for the project’s workers.

    The sources explained that Rosatom is close to concluding the criteria and controls of the tender, and the opportunity is available before all Egyptian and Russian companies to participate. “We hope that an Egyptian company would handle the construction work,” the sources added.

    They explained that the Ministry of Military Production will handle examining the submitted offers and the awarding of contracts to the winning companies in coordination with the Russian side. “The most important points to consider in the companies to be chosen as winners of the tender are their ability to perform the work efficiently and having previous experience. Competing companies will submit research of a specified quality in order to be allowed to bid for the tender,” the sources said.

    The Russian company plans to lay the foundation stone of the nuclear plant in February 2020. The construction duration will be 54 months, followed by the operation of the first nuclear reactor of a 1,200 MW capacity.

    Egypt signed an agreement with Russia to establish a nuclear power plant in El-Dabaa with a total capacity of 4,800 MW. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, announced last month the final approval of the project.

    Russia will be providing a loan to Egypt worth $25bn in order to fund 85% of the total value of the project, including the work and services of the construction and operation equipment of Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant.

  • Rosatom begins license procedures for Dabaa nuclear power plant

    Rosatom begins license procedures for Dabaa nuclear power plant

    Russia’s Rosatom started the preparatory process for obtaining the necessary permits and licenses for the construction of the Dabaa nuclear power plant, the most important of which is the approval of the Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA).

    A source at EAEA said that the establishment of the nuclear plant is subject to a number of procedures, including permission to accept site selection, review of studies, characteristics, environmental impact, and permission to build after reviewing the designs through the first report about the plant.

    The source told Daily News Egypt that the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) will then approve the site of the project, after obtaining the documents and paperwork of the EAEA to study them and give the green light within six months.

    Permission was also obtained for pre-operation procedures, operators’ data and experience, and fuel loading authorisation, according to the source.
    He explained that operating licenses are issued after reviewing all the above procedures, and that the plant is subject to inspection throughout its operational life.

    He noted that the authority is keen on Egypt reaping the fruits of energy use, and is keen to protect the Egyptian community and the environment.
    He pointed out that the plant is very safe and can withstand the collision of aircrafts, earthquakes, and volcanoes. Egypt will follow all international procedures and standards for the management of waste to avoid all risks.

    He pointed out that there are 470 operative reactors around the world producing some 392,000MW in 31 countries. He added that the US alone owns 99 reactors.

  • Rosatom seeks to educate Egyptians about establishing El Dabaa nuclear plant: Likhachov

    Rosatom seeks to educate Egyptians about establishing El Dabaa nuclear plant: Likhachov

    Russian Rosatom seeks to educate Egyptians about the importance of nuclear energy and answer the questions they have about the importance and benefits of nuclear plants.
    Alexey Likhachov, the director general of Rosatom, said that the company is hoping to communicate with opinion leaders and thinkers to arrange a conference over the upcoming period to eliminate nuclear energy illiteracy and provide them with information about the establishment of a nuclear power plant and nuclear safety, especially that the establishment of El Dabaa plant is not new for the companies who have established several other nuclear plants.
    Likhachev stressed that the nuclear plant will not pose any danger to the lives of Egyptians and that those who are not specialised must be educated in order to eliminate the wrong perceptions about nuclear plants. He said that Rosatom is not only a centre for scientific research in the nuclear sector, but it is also one that carries a message to sustain peace in the world, which places a global responsibility on its back, especially in terms of contributing to finding solutions for global issues using nuclear energy.
    This includes the lack of power supply in some developing countries, in addition to water desalination in some areas that suffer from a shortage of clean water, Likhachov added. He further asserted that 800 million people globally suffer from the lack of fresh water. Likhachev explained that his company has an innovative system to reuse the fuel depleted in some types of power plants using fast neutrons which do the recycling of the fuel. He went on to explain that his company pays attention to the different scenarios for safely dealing with nuclear waste.
    He pointed out that the Rosatom has been able to install energy unit number 6 in Novovoronezh nuclear plant to the national electricity grid in August 2016. The new energy unit is the most advanced technologically and generates 240 MW for the national grid. It is considered the first energy unit of the third generation of the VVR with a 1,200 MW capacity. This is the kind of reactors that will be launched in Egypt and will guarantee extra safety that endures even the toughest circumstances. Likhachev noted that the lifespan of a nuclear reactor has become 60 years. He added that Rosatom is not one of the Russian institutions that is being sanctioned by the European Union. “We have already undertaken many main tasks over the past years, with the most prominent one being increasing Rosatom’s share in international markets and reducing the costs of products as well as the period required to implement them and developing new products in the local and international market,” Likhachev said.
    Rosatom continues to receive requests to implement projects in a number of countries. For example, Egypt and Russia have both signed an agreement in 2015 to establish the first electricity generation plant from nuclear energy in El Dabaa. It is planned to take place after signing the final contracts. Rosatom has signed a contract to establish and construct a nuclear energy plant in El Dabaa.
    “We are currently implementing nuclear energy plant projects in Turkey, Belarus, Hungary, and Finland,” he added. He pointed out that the company is developing its communication with several other continents, noting that Russia is open to everyone from across the world, adding that it is unimaginable to remain isolated from the surrounding world and its issues.

  • Government reviews 3 scenarios to sign Dabaa nuclear plant contract

    Government reviews 3 scenarios to sign Dabaa nuclear plant contract

    The government is reviewing three scenarios for the signing of the Dabaa nuclear power plant contracts executed by Rosatom with funding from Russia.

    Government sources told Daily News Egypt that the first scenario is a partial signing of the contracts before the end of the year, leaving the remaining parts to be signed within three months.

    The second scenario involves the postponement of the entire agreement to March, then presenting the agreements to the State Council for revision.

    The commercial contract between Egypt and Russia to establish, supply, and operate the Dabaa nuclear plant includes four agreements: the main establishment, fuel supply, technical support during operation, and establishing storage for consumer fuel.

    The third scenario, which the source described as “highly unlikable”, is postponing the signing of the contracts indefinitely or even cancelling them. He said that cancelling the contracts is not likely to happen as Egypt already included the expected energy output of the plant in its strategy of diversifying energy sources.

    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 for 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, with a 3% annual interest rate.

    Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker said that negotiations with Russia are in their final stages.

    He noted that the promotion campaign is set to begin in April, along with training 1,711 technicians to work at the station.

    The sources said that although negotiations are approaching a final result, some terms are still debated, including providing the banking guarantees and insurance packages.

    He added that not agreeing on these items will cause huge losses and may lead to international arbitration.

    The source pointed out that there are contracts that have not been presented to the parliament, nor reviewed by the State Council.

    El-Sayed Hegazy, a member of the parliament’s Energy Committee, said that the Dabaa agreement has not yet been reviewed by the parliament. The topic is not on the agenda for discussions in January either, he added.

    He pointed out that the parliament will not stand in the way of any agreements related to national projects, including the Dabaa project.

     

  • Electricity minister to send president memo on Dabaa negotiations next week

    Electricity minister to send president memo on Dabaa negotiations next week

    Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker is set to present a detailed memo to the president next week, on the latest developments of the Dabaa nuclear plant negotiations with Russian company Rosatom.

    A government source told Daily News Egypt that negotiations are very accurate and discrete. both parties are discussing the safety of reactors during the establishment phase and the provision of nuclear fuel. “Every decision will be final,” he stressed.

    The source said added that the consultant hired by the Ministry of Electricity has attended all negotiations, and 90% of the contracts are finalised.

    The Ministry of Electricity has banned all its officials from discussing the negotiations.

    Shaker told Daily News Egypt that the negotiations are in their final stage.

    The source also said that a high-level Russian delegation will arrive in Cairo next week to follow up the project site measurements in Dabaa.

    The Egyptian government agreed with Rosatom to establish Dabaa nuclear power plant with a 4,800MW capacity. The agreement includes building nuclear fuel storage facilities to supply the nuclear plant with the required nuclear fuel throughout the 60-year operational period. Rosatom will also manage nuclear waste, maintenance, and operations for 10 years.

    Russia will provide Egypt with a $25bn loan to finance the necessary construction equipment and the operation of the plant in Dabaa.

    The loan is used to finance 85% of the value of each contract to implement works, services, and shipments for the project. The Egyptian side will pay the remaining 15% in the form of instalments. The amount will be paid for the benefit of authorised Russian institutions according to the contracts, either in the form of an advance or as a payment that is made later after implementing the works and services, and delivering supplies. The loan has a 13-year term from 2016 to 2028, with a 3% annual interest rate.