MOSCOW – Rosatom engineers have completed a critical phase in the construction of Egypt's first nuclear power plant.
A Russian engineer said on Tuesday (March 25, 2025) that the final welding of the reactor pressure vessel of Unit 1 at the Eldaba Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) was “successfully completed.”
In a statement available to Barsch, Rosatom said: “The work was carried out at the Izhora plant in St. Petersburg, a key facility in Rosatom's mechanical engineering department,” he said.
The welding process took 10 days and the joint area was kept under constant heat throughout the process.
We combined the large components of the VVER-1200 reactor vessel using approximately 2 tons of flux and over 1.5 tons of special welding wire.
“Once the welding is complete, the container will undergo heat treatment and then undergo a thorough inspection, including X-ray, ultrasound and penetrant testing, to ensure that it meets the highest safety and durability standards,” the statement said.
“This strict quality control is essential for nuclear reactors designed to operate safely for at least 60 years.”
The Eldaba NPP consists of four power units of 1200 MW each, and features a Russian class VVER-1200 pressurized water reactor.
“This is an evolutionary design that fully complies with all international safety requirements and is likely to change the energy environment across the African continent,” the statement said.
“Russia is actively developing scientific and technical cooperation with all countries of interest.
“Major international projects are also continuing to be implemented.
“Rosatom and his department are actively involved in this work.”
One such project is the Akkuyu nuclear power plant in Türkiye.
According to Rosatom, the factory is equipped with four power units equipped with a Russian-designed 3+ VVER reactor, each with a capacity of 1200 MW.
“The Akkuyu NPP is the first project in the world's nuclear industry, implemented in accordance with the construction ownership model,” the statement said.
“At the beginning of this year, Unit 1's first standby diesel power plant was successfully launched. This is a critical safety system designed to provide autonomous power to the unit's core infrastructure in the event of main supply closures.”
