Egypt and Russia have reviewed progress on the construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant, reaffirming their commitment to keeping the flagship energy project on schedule while exploring broader cooperation in nuclear technology.
Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with Alexey Likhachev, director general of Russia’s state nuclear corporation Rosatom, to assess the latest developments and discuss next steps, according to an official statement released Tuesday.
The meeting brought together senior officials from Egypt’s energy and finance sectors, reflecting the strategic importance of the project, which is expected to play a central role in the country’s long-term energy mix.
Madbouly reiterated Egypt’s commitment to close coordination with its Russian partners to ensure steady implementation, stressing the need to adhere to agreed timelines and meet construction targets.
He also highlighted Cairo’s interest in expanding cooperation beyond the El Dabaa project, particularly in small modular reactor (SMR) technology and workforce development.
“The government is keen to deepen collaboration in advanced nuclear technologies and to build national expertise in this field,” Madbouly said, underscoring the importance of training Egyptian personnel to support the sector’s growth.
The El Dabaa plant, located on Egypt’s Mediterranean coast, is the country’s first nuclear power project and is being developed by Rosatom under a bilateral agreement between Cairo and Moscow.
For his part, Likhachev said the discussions focused on reviewing construction progress, including equipment installation for the first reactor unit and preparations for operational testing.
He outlined Rosatom’s work plan for 2026, reaffirming the company’s commitment to delivering the project on schedule. He also praised cooperation with Egyptian authorities, particularly the Ministry of Electricity, for facilitating implementation.
Likhachev conveyed greetings from Russian President Vladimir Putin to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, highlighting the broader political backing for the project.
Egypt’s Minister of Electricity Mahmoud Esmat said coordination is already underway with Russia to explore opportunities in SMR technology, which is seen as a flexible and cost-effective option for expanding nuclear capacity.
Analysts say Egypt’s push into nuclear energy reflects efforts to diversify its power sources, reduce reliance on fossil fuels and meet rising electricity demand driven by population growth and industrial expansion.
Once completed, the El Dabaa plant is expected to significantly boost Egypt’s electricity generation capacity and contribute to energy security.
The project also underscores deepening economic and strategic ties between Egypt and Russia, particularly in large-scale infrastructure and energy development.
Both sides emphasized the importance of continued coordination and consultation to ensure the project’s success and to expand cooperation into new areas of nuclear technology.
The meeting comes as Egypt accelerates efforts to modernize its energy sector, with nuclear power seen as a key pillar of its long-term strategy.
