Egypt considers expanding El-Dabaa nuclear plant with two additional reactors

Egypt is considering expanding its El-Dabaa nuclear power plant project by adding two additional reactors. Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister Mahmoud Esmat stated that discussions with Russia’s Rosatom are planned to potentially increase the plant's total capacity to approximately 7.2GW, a 50 per cent increase over the current four-unit plan.

The existing project consists of four Generation III+ VVER-1200 reactors, each with a 1.2GW capacity, totaling 4.8GW. Russia is providing a $25bn state loan covering 85 per cent of the current project's cost. While the expansion is under discussion, no formal contracts, financing packages, or timelines have been established for the proposed fifth and sixth units.

On-site construction is progressing, with the Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) reporting the start of the fifth tier installation for the first unit's reactor building inner containment. This phase involves assembling 12 prefabricated sections using a 2,200-ton heavy-duty crane. The expansion aims to meet rising domestic electricity demand and reduce Egypt's reliance on natural gas for power generation.