Egypt Approves Spent Nuclear Fuel Facility

Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) has received approval to construct a spent nuclear fuel storage facility at the El-Dabaa power plant, approximately 320 km northwest of Cairo. Scheduled to begin construction in 2025, the facility will utilize advanced dry containment technology to safely store nuclear waste for up to 100 years, adhering to global safety and environmental standards. El-Dabaa, Egypt's first nuclear power plant, is being developed in collaboration with Russia's Rosatom and will feature four VVER-1200 reactors. NPPA Chairman Amjad El-Wakeel emphasized the permit as a significant milestone in the country's nuclear program, aligning with the project's timeline. The permit application was submitted on June 12, 2024, and was granted after thorough technical consultations and site inspections by the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority (NRRA). This initiative is part of Egypt's broader efforts to establish a sustainable and regulated nuclear energy program.