On November 19-21, Alexandria University (Egypt), one of the country's oldest and most prestigious universities, hosted the Nuclear Week at its Engineering faculty. The event was held with the support of Egypt's Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA), Egyptian Nuclear Radiation Regulatory Authority (ENRRA) and Nuclear Materials Authority (NMA). Rosatom acted as the event’s co-organiser and partner, for the second time. At the Nuclear Week, Rosatom held lectures on Russian nuclear technologies and the nuclear industry’s current issues, as well as fielding an exhibition display.
Dean of Alexandria University Engineering faculty Dr Abdul Aziz Hassanein Mohamed Saad Qansuh and Director of the Russian Science and Culture Centre in Egypt Alexey Tevanian took part in the Nuclear Week opening ceremony. Tevanian noted Egypt and Russia’s long history of partnership and the importance of the El Dabaa NPP construction project to furthering the two countries’ cooperation. ‘The Egypt-Russia relations are going through a new development stage across all fields, and nuclear power is the most important one of them. The El Dabaa NPP is the most ambitious joint project between Egypt and Russia since the Aswan Dam and a new banner project in our two countries’ cooperation in the 21st century. As far back as 1961, Russia helped Egypt build its first research reactor at Inshas. Egypt’s nuclear dream was born then, and it is now about to be brought to life,’ he said.
Rosatom Middle East and North Africa director Alexander Voronkov also addressed the audience, remarking on the growing interest in nuclear power from Egypt’s population and Egypt’s youth in particular, ‘The fact that a university as esteemed as Alexandria University annually holds the Nuclear Week is a testament to the fact that the people’s interest in the peaceful nuclear industry is growing and more and more talented young people – scientists and nuclear engineers – are choosing a career in the field and see their, and Egypt’s, future in it.’
The Nuclear Week, whose audience included university teachers and students, members of the regulatory body, trade associations ad industry players, saw presentations by representatives of Rusatom Overseas, ASE Group (both part of Rosatom) as well as Rosatom’s Corporate Academy and National Research Nuclear University MEPhI. The speakers covered such topics as the VVER-1200 Generation 3+ reactor technology, which will be installed at Egypt’s first NPP at El Dabaa, and its safety features; the innovative Multi-D project management technology, research reactors and the Russian nuclear personnel training system. Of great interest to the audience was the presentation by the Director of the International Environmental Safety Centre and member of Rosatom’s Public Council A. Vasiliev,  who spoke about environmental management and environmental safety of Russian-designed NPPs, noting the important role that NPPs play in reducing СО2 emissions.
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Rosatom (full name – State Atomic Energy Corporation Rosatom) is a leader in the global nuclear technology market. Rosatom brings together more than 340 civilian nuclear enterprises, offering a full range of services throughout an NPP’s lifecycle, as well as services in non-power nuclear technologies including nuclear medicine, desalination technologies, agricultural irradiation technologies, and research reactors.
Alexandria University (est. 1938) is one of Egypt’s leading and oldest universities. In March 2017, Alexandria University and MEPhI signed a memorandum on cooperation, which lays the foundation for the Egyptian and Russian parties’ joint work on developing nuclear research programs, utilizing infrastructural capabilities, exchange scientific and educational data, and developing student exchange programmes.
Rosatom presented innovative technologies at Nuclear Week at Alexandria University
Rosatom presented innovative technologies at Nuclear Week at Alexandria University