Installation of Core Catcher in the 4th unit of Egyptian NPP begins

The body of the so-called Core Catcher was installed at unit 4 of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt. The core catcher is one of the key safety components of power units of Generation III+.

The Core Catcher consists of several elements with a total weight of over 700 tons, while the weight of the core catcher body is 155 tons.

“It is symbolic that we are beginning the installation of the core catcher at unit 4 on Nuclear Energy Day celebrated in Egypt on November 19. Work on the construction of all four units of the first nuclear power plant in Egypt is in full swing with the observance of all international requirements. In each of its projects, Rosatom puts safety above all, and the Egyptian construction site is no exception for us,” said Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom.

Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy of Egypt Mahmoud Esmat confirmed that the El-Dabaa NPP project is under constant supervision and that the work is ongoing on schedule. Explaining the energy sector strategy of the country, he said, “It focuses on energy balance, diversifying power generation sources, and utilizing new, renewable, and clean energy sources to decrease fuel consumption and lower carbon emissions.”

El-Dabaa NPP is the first Nuclear Power Plant in Egypt. The NPP will consist of four power units, with Russian VVER-1200 reactor. Each unit will have a capacity of 1200 MW. Rosatom Engineering Division is the General Designer and General Contractor of the project. According to the contract, Russia will also supply nuclear fuel for the whole life cycle of the NPP and will provide assistance in training the Egyptian personnel at the operation and maintenance stages during the first ten years of NPP operation. Besides, under a separate agreement, Russia will build special storage and supply special containers for storing spent nuclear fuel.