Egypt announced that it will have a fully operational nuclear power plant by the end of the decade. The country’s ministry of electricity said that they plan to be ready to go on nuclear power to support Egypt’s power needs by 2019.

The state-run MENA news agency quoted Minister of Electricity Hassan Younis saying that Egypt will also erect three other nuclear plants by 2025.  Younis added that international bidding for the plant’s construction will begin at the end of the year.

According to the ministry, costs are expected to be around $1.6 billion. Last month, Younis was in Russia for talks with Russian officials on boosting cooperation programs between the two countries, with special focus on the nuclear sphere.

Younis inspected a number of power generation nuclear plants in Russia to get an idea of the technology to be used.

The minister also held talks with heads of Russian companies specialized in manufacturing nuclear plants’ components.

The companies expressed strong willingness to contribute to Egypt’s nuclear program. Egypt and Russia approved the formation of specialized working groups of experts to activate agreement of cooperation in the fields of development and training Egyptian cadres, nuclear stations technology as well as assessment and development of crude uranium sources and developing infrastructure and legislative framework to put Egypt’s nuclear program into effect, Younis added.

For his part, Chief of Russia’s State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom) Sergei Kiriyenko hailed cooperation between Russia and Egypt in the energy sector.  Rosatom said it is willing to engage in a bidding contest for the right to build Egypt’s first nuclear power plant, Kiriyenko said following a meeting with Minister Younis.

bikyamasr.com