nuclear-news

Why Egypt’s new nuclear plant is a long-term win for Russia

By Marina Lorenzini | December 20, 2023

With 22 countries pledging to triple global nuclear energy production by
2050 at the COP28 climate meeting in Dubai, sincere prospects for growth in
global nuclear energy market is on the table. Nonetheless, these 22
countries largely represent ones that have minimal ties with Russia’s
nuclear exports or are seeking to decouple themselves from a current
dependency.

Many other countries are considering the option of nuclear
energy, and several will turn to Russia’s state-owned nuclear energy
company, Rosatom, to build their new reactors. Since assuming power,
Russian President Vladimir Putin has developed Russia’s nuclear industry
exports as a key piece of its energy and geopolitical portfolio. Rosatom
currently holds about 70 percent of the global export market for
construction of new nuclear power plants. According to the conglomerate’s
disclosures, its exports exceeded $10 billion in 2022, with a schedule of
upcoming international orders amounting to about $200 billion over the next
10 years.

One country in particular has embraced a partnership with
Rosatom: Egypt. In 2015, Russia and Egypt concluded an intergovernmental
agreement that led Rosatom to build a $30-billion nuclear power plant near
the Mediterranean coastal town of El Dabaa, about 170 kilometers west of
Alexandria. With four Russian-designed, 1.2-gigawatt, VVER reactor units,
the El Dabaa nuclear power plant is expected to generate more than 10
percent of total electricity production in Egypt and provide a consistent
baseload power source for 20 million people.

Bulletin of Atomic Scientists 20th Dec 2023  https://thebulletin.org/2023/12/why-egypts-new-nuclear-plant-is-a-long-term-win-for-russia/

December 23, 2023 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | Egypt, politics international, Russia