Installation of the fifth tier of the inner containment shell begins at Unit 1 of Egypt's El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant

The Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) recently announced that installation of the fifth tier of the inner containment shell in the reactor building of Unit 1 at the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant has commenced. This marks a significant milestone in the civil construction and installation work for the unit.

The inner containment shell is a cylindrical structure designed to house the nuclear reactor and related primary circuit equipment of the nuclear power plant. The fifth tier being installed consists of 12 components, all prefabricated on-site at the El Dabaa plant. Each component is 7.5 meters high and weighs approximately 40 to 45 tons, depending on its structural configuration.

As planned, the installation of the fifth tier is expected to be completed within two weeks. Subsequently, the remaining tiers will continue to be assembled to form the complete annular inner containment structure. A heavy-duty crane with a lifting capacity of 2,200 tons will be used for the lifting operations at the construction site.

The NPPA stated that the installation work is being carried out by a professional team with extensive experience, and all operations are being conducted in accordance with international quality and safety standards. After completing the regulatory procedures and requirements stipulated by the Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA), the NPPA monitoring and supervision teams will conduct detailed inspections and tests on the relevant work to confirm that the installation process complies with nuclear safety, nuclear security, and quality requirements.

Chairman of the NPPA, Sherif Helmy, stated that the commencement of the fifth tier installation reflects the ongoing coordination and cooperation between the NPPA and its Russian partner Atomstroyexport in project advancement, and also demonstrates the commitment of all parties to quality, safety, and nuclear security standards.

Alexey Kononenko, Vice President of Atomstroyexport and Director of the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant Construction Project, stated that the start of the fifth tier installation marks new progress in the construction of Unit 1. This progress is the result of the joint efforts of construction workers, technicians, engineers, designers, and specialists across all areas of the project, as well as collaboration with the Egyptian side.