Construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant in El Dabaa is a principal area of Russian-­Egyptian cooperation. This cooperation, however, extends far beyond the construction project to include other areas, such as nuclear medicine.

In early June, Rosatom took part in the Africa Health ExCon, a pan-­African exhibition and conference held in Cairo. A key event in healthcare and pharmaceutical sectors brought together 1,200 Egyptian speakers and 150 foreign speakers, in addition to the presence of 300 foreign delegates.

One of the most important Rosatom products on display in the Excon, was Tianox, an innovative development by specialists of the national nuclear industry used for the treatment of adults and children with nitric oxide (including newborns). The device is used to treat lung diseases, heart surgery, organ transplantation, neonatology, rehabilitation and other fields. The Tianox device produces nitric oxide, controls its concentration, and then delivers it to the patient’s lungs.

“Rosatom experienced a significant increase in interest from Egyptian companies during our participation in this year’s Africa Health Excon. The event provided a platform for Rosatom to engage with key market players, showcasing the diverse opportunities offered by our portfolio of products and equipment for healthcare in Egypt,” stated Murad Aslanov, Director of Rosatom office in Egypt.

Furthermore, and in light of Rosatom’s participation in the Africa Health Excon Exhibition, Medscan Group, Rosatom’s subsidiary group of companies, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Ayady 4040 Foundation/Association. Parties agreed to further implement joint projects aimed at utilizing non-energy nuclear technologies and developing nuclear medicine in Egypt.

Medscan Group is one of the leaders of the private healthcare sector in Russia. The company operates 58 medical centers, 15 laboratories and 442 medical offices in 102 Russian cities. The Ayadi 4040 Association provides free treatment in private hospitals to those in need. A free oncology hospital has been operating since 2005.

Construction

In late May, the nuclear construction project passed another milestone as installation of the first tier of the reactor building’s inner containment was completed at El Dabaa Unit 1.

The inner containment is a cylinder-­shaped reinforced concrete structure with a hemispherical dome. It will house the reactor and primary coolant systems. The inner containment consists of 12 segments, each weighing 60 to 80 tonnes. Its erection began in March last year.

Amged El-­Wakeel, Chairman of the Board of the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA), and Andrey Petrov, First Deputy Director General for Nuclear Power at Rosatom and President of AtomStroyExport (ASE), visited the site to mark the completion of erection operations.

Andrey Petrov said works were underway at over 130 structures on the site, involving more than 20,000 construction workers. “It is with great satisfaction that I note the close cooperation between the Russian and Egyptian parties. If not for it, we could hardly expect the successful completion of the project,” Andrey Petrov pointed out.

Training

Rosatom assists Egypt in training and professional development of El Dabaa’s future employees. In late May, a delegation from the NPPA visited the facilities of Rosatom’s Technical Academy — this is where Egyptian staff are trained.

The delegates learned about teaching methods and were demonstrated study aids and training equipment. The guests were also shown the simulators used in the training process, took a look at the capabilities of the Practical Training Center in Novovoronezh and received feedback from the Egyptians trainees.

“Our partners attach much value to personal contacts, which is confirmed by the invitation to visit the construction site of El Dabaa NPP and discuss further prospects for cooperation. In its turn, the Russian delegation suggested holding regular training meetings in Russia,” said Dmitry Serkov from Rosatom’s Technical Academy.

Culture and sports

Rosatom organizes cultural, educational and sports events on a regular basis. In late May, results were announced of the 7th Atoms Empowering Africa online video contest. Most of the winners (5 out of 13) were Egyptians, and all of them won a tour to Russia.
Contestants created short videos on the topics related to nuclear energy. The winners were chosen by a panel of expert judges from several countries.

“The fact that Egypt has produced the most winners this year is a testament to the country’s dedication to advancing nuclear education and awareness. These young visionaries are not just winners in a contest; they are the forerunners of a more informed and technologically empowered Africa,” said Dr. Soheir Quoraa, Professor Emeritus at Egypt’s National Center for Radiation Research and one of the distinguished judges of this competition.

Also in May, a sports competition among construction workers was held at the plant site. Over 1,000 employees from 14 companies competed in 12 sports.

Alexey Kononenko, ASE Vice President and El Dabaa Construction Project Director, emphasized that the sports competition had become traditional for the Egyptian construction site. “We maintain sports traditions at El Dabaa in association with all subcontractors involved in the project and the project owner. Sports unite our teams, which is the most important thing,” Alexey Kononenko said.