26 researchers in nuclear sciences receive practical training at Russia

CAIRO – 6 April 2022: The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research released Wednesday a press statement on the practical training program that was delivered by the Joint Institute for Nuclear Research located at Russia's Dubna to 26 young Egyptian researchers in nuclear sciences.

The researchers belong to 14 Egyptians universities and research institutes, and the duration of their training at Russia extended between March 1 and March 24. Those are the last batch of 324 nuclear researchers that got trained at the institute, as there were 11 previous ones.  

What is distinct about this group is that it is the first to study at the institute after the promotion of Egypt to become the 19th full member, instead of being just an associate member. That promotion took place on November 23, 2021 by voting.

CEO of the Russian energy company Rosatom Alexey Likhachev stated in January that the construction of the first reactor at Al Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant would begin in July.

The plant is worth $26 billion, and consists of four reactors. The capacity of each is 1,200 megawatts, and the project is planned to operate at full capacity by 2030.

The plant is scheduled to generate net revenues of $264 billion for the state treasury over 60 years, which is the lifespan of the reactors.

Chairman of Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) Amgad al-Wakil told Egypt Today in May that he expected the Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA) to issue the permit to build Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in July 2022.

The NPPA applied on the permit on March 10, 2019, and currently, is remedying the shortcomings detected by the ENRRA. It is noted that Wakil had said in earlier statements that the permit would be issued by mid-2021.

Once the permit is out, the concrete base of the first reactor will be built. At present, contractors are leveling the land, and constructing administrative and associate buildings.