ENEC and Egypt’s Nuclear Power Plants Authority Sign MOU at COP28 for nuclear energy use
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and Egypt’s NuclearPower Plants Authority (NPPA), the owner and operator of Egypt’s first nuclear energy plant, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) at COP28.
It sets out the framework for the two entities to explore opportunities for cooperation in advancing the use of “peaceful” nuclear energy.
The MoU was signed by His Excellency (H.E.) Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, and Professor Dr Amged El-Wakeel, Board Chairman of NPPA.
His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, ENEC’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Today, we are in a race to decarbonize, and regional collaboration, signified by the signing of this MoU with NPPA, is crucial for our collective success in expanding nuclear capacity and achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Our vision is expansive: exploring opportunities for further large-scale plant development, delving into advanced reactors and SMRs, and driving forward in research and development. This commitment is not confined to the UAE; through strategic international and regional investments and partnerships, we aim to unlock the full potential of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program.”
ENEC shared it is working with local stakeholders to determine deployment pathways, and with international partners for both technology and project collaboration opportunities.
Egypt’s peaceful nuclear energy program, it said, is centred around the development of the El Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant on the Mediterranean coast, approximately 250 km west of Alexandria.
The power plant will consist of four VVER-1200 pressurised water reactor units, with a total capacity of 4.8 GW.
This capacity is expected to account for up to 50% of Egypt’s power generation capacity. Following the construction start date in July 2022, the commissioning of the first unit is expected to begin in 2026, and the plant is anticipated to be operating at full capacity with all four units by 2030.