The reactor building of Unit 1 continues to rise. In March, construction crews completed several major construction and installation operations there. Rosatom also launched the Atoms Empowering Africa competition, featuring a trip to Russia as the grand prize.
In late March, the installation of the fourth tier of the inner containment shell (ICS) began in the reactor building of Unit 1. A heavy-duty crawler crane and a mobile crane are involved in this operation.
The ICS is a key safety structure of the nuclear power plant — it houses the nuclear reactor and primary circuit equipment. The fourth tier consists of 12 segments, each weighing about 12 tonnes and being nearly 8 meters high.
The next important stage will be the installation of the embedded part for the transport airlock, which will be located at the boundary between the third and fourth ICS tiers.
In mid-March, the lining was installed up to the +26.000 meter mark in the reactor pit of the Unit 1 reactor building. This operation also involved the use of a heavy crawler crane. The lining forms the inner surface of the pit, ensures the required geometry and precise placement of equipment, and serves as the foundation for the subsequent installation of reactor systems.
Builders also installed a pressurizer relief tank (PRT). The installation was performed using a tower crane. The PRT is designed to receive and condense steam coming from the pressurizer both during normal operation and in potential emergency situations. Weighing 15 tons, the PRT is about 8 meters long, and stands roughly 4 meters high.
In addition, a retaining ring for the reactor of Unit 1 was delivered to the El Dabaa NPP construction site in March. It is designed to secure the reactor pressure vessel against lateral displacements. The ring is mounted on the vessel flange using radial keys secured to the retaining frame in the concrete of the reactor pit. This structure was manufactured at a production facility of Rosatom’s Mechanical Engineering Division and delivered to Egypt by sea from St. Petersburg.
Rosatom works to promote nuclear technologies among young people worldwide. In March, the BRICS Nuclear Energy Platform and Rosatom launched the Atoms Empowering Africa video contest. “Today, many African countries are actively discussing the role of modern nuclear technologies in long-term development, from securing reliable electricity to implementing advanced solutions in medicine and agriculture. Atoms Empowering Africa engages a new generation — students, entrepreneurs, and young professionals from across the continent — in these critical conversations,” said Ryan Collyer, CEO of Rosatom Central and Southern Africa.
Contestants are invited to record a short video on one of five topics: “The Role of Nuclear Energy in the Future of BRICS Countries,” “How Nuclear Technologies Improve People’s Lives,” “Youth and the BRICS Nuclear Energy Platform,” “Cities and Regions of the BRICS Nuclear Energy Platform,” and “The BRICS Nuclear Energy Platform: Vision for 2030.” The competition is open to residents of African countries aged 18 to 35.
“By integrating the Atoms Empowering Africa contest into the Platform’s activities, we hope to inspire African youth to reflect on how international cooperation contributes to solving pressing issues in their countries. We are convinced that their ideas and perspectives will be an important contribution to shaping a more innovative and open community in the field of nuclear technologies,” noted Elsie Pule, Head Coordinator of the BRICS Nuclear Platform.
Submissions for the contest will be accepted until May 1.After that, the jury will evaluate the submitted entries based on the following criteria: originality of the idea, coherence of the presentation, and the relevance of the issue to the specific region. One winner will be selected from each country. Detailed information about the competition rules and submission requirements is available on the Rosatom Africa website at rosatomafrica.com.
The Atoms Empowering Africa competition has been held since 2017. Last year, 13 winners traveled to Russia, where they visited landmark facilities of the Russian nuclear industry.
Photo by: ASE JSC, Rosatom Central and Southern Africa
