On Wednesday,November 19 2025,Egypt has signed a nuclear fuel purchase order and a broad cooperation agreement with Russia’s State-owned Rosatom for the country’s first nuclear power facility at El-Dabaa,the Egyptian Cabinet announced.
The fuel order covers the first reactor core,signalling readiness for further project development,while the cooperation agreement includes joint production of medical isotopes for cancer treatment.
The announcement coincided with the installation of the reactor pressure vessel for the first unit,witnessed via videoconference by President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Al-Sisi hailed the milestone as “the first page of Egypt’s nuclear energy project,” highlighting the strategic partnership with Russia.
Putin described the collaboration as “a great honor and privilege,” noting that 100 Egyptian students have undergone nuclear training in Russian universities. The first reactor unit will generate 460 megawatts,and the full El-Dabaa complex in Matrouh province is planned to include four reactors,each with a 1,200-megawatt capacity.
Russia is financing 85 percent of the $28.75-billion project via a 22-year loan,with Atomstroyexport as general contractor and Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority supervising construction,which began in July 2022.
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