After Russia, Korea and Japan, the Egyptian Nuclear Power Plant Authority (NPPA) signed at the end of May 2015 a memorandum of understanding on nuclear cooperation to support the project of four reactors in the site of El-Dabaa in the north of the country with China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC).
The Chinese side plans to export the Hualong reactor to this strategic project. The Dabaa plant has the potential to provide up to 50% of Egypt electric energy capacity, as renewable energy sources alone aren’t sufficient to satisfy the energy needs of the country. For example, the cost of producing 1 KWh in solar energy is four times more expensive than that of nuclear energy when costs incurred after the station is no longer operational are taken into account.
The tender should be starting soon, as the implementation delays, since 2011 costs billions of USD each year to the country. Mr. Ibrahim Al-Osery, Nuclear Affairs and Energy Adviser at the Ministry of Electricity estimated the cost of the project around 4 Billion USD per unit. The foreign investors will cover 85% of the foreign component costs according to the specifications stipulated by the Ministry of Electricity.
The main features of the first nuclear power plant are:
- The tender will call all qualified vendors to submit bids for 2 units.
- The units shall be PWR reactor type. Gen.III & Gen.III+.
- The unit size shall range from 900 up to 1650 MWe.
- The project will be EPC Firm price Lump Sum Turnkey Contract.
- The proposed NPP shall be licensable in the country of origin.
- The scope of work includes: design, engineering, procurement, construction, fuel supply, commissioning, putting NPP under full operation and full scope simulator.
- The plant shall meet all the IAEA Safety requirements.
- The local participation not less than 20%.
- The financial proposal covering 85% of foreign and 15% of local supplies.
- The EPC contractor shall provide proposal for training and technology transfer to the Egyptian staff.
On July 21, CNNC Assistant General Manager Li Xiaoming gathered the different institutes involved in the design and engineering of the Hualong reactor, such as China Nuclear Power Engineering (CNPE) and the engineering company China Zhongyuan Engineering Corp (CZEC), to announce the latest progress of project development. Li Xiaoming emphasizes on the necessity to stay alert to the market competition and the needs to improve the core technology of the Hualong. This last part was relayed by CZEC that introduced the preparation of technical proposals and the problems encountered.
Note:
The deputy general manager of CNPE, Jiang Hong and Yangzhao Dong, general manager of CZEC are personally involved in the preparation of the project for the tender.
Dynatom
