Nuclear Industry Suppliers Forum organized by Rosatom Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation and Egyptian Nuclear Power Plant Authority (NPPA) kicked off in Cairo (Egypt) on November 25, 2018.
Osama Osran, Deputy Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy of Egypt, Amgad el-Wakeel, Chairman of the Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) and Kirill Komarov, first Deputy Director General for Corporate Development and International Business of Rosatom, participated in the opening ceremony. Sergey Kirpichenko, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation in the Arabic Republic of Egypt attended the event.
In his welcome speech, Mr. Osran pointed out that Russian-Egyptian relationship dates back to 75 years. According to Deputy Minister, the forum is an important event called to boost relationship between two countries in the framework of a flagship project, construction of first NPP in Egypt. “The history of Russian-Egyptian cooperation in nuclear sphere started in 1960s when the first research reactor based on Russian technologies was built in Egypt. It was the starting point of Egypt’s long way of implementation nuclear technologies for using it in various spheres, such as medicine, industry and agriculture”, - speaker added. Amgad el-Wakeel, Chairman of NPPA, pointed out that El Dabaa NPP project is the pinnacle of Russian-Egyptian friendship and result of long history of the fruitful cooperation in nuclear sphere. It is the largest project for modern Egypt, and its successful implementation requires coordination of the efforts and actions of all parties involved.
Kirill Komarov stated: “It is emblematic that the first nuclear industry suppliers forum of such a high level in the region takes place in Egypt where we implement one of the largest projects in the history of nuclear industry. El Dabaa NPP is not just a new chapter in history of Russian-Egyptian relations. Constructing the first NPP makes us face the future of partnership between Russia and Egypt with confidence for at least a century ahead”.
In his welcome speech, Kirill Komarov told that the future NPP is based on Generation 3+ VVER-1200 reactors, which have already proved its efficiency in Russia. “Our technologies are based on more than 70 years of Russian nuclear expertise. Hence, without any doubt, El Dabaa will become the safest and most advanced NPP on the continent”.
But NPP will not only supply the country with stable, affordable, ecologically safe and clean energy. According to the speakers speeches nuclear industry is a powerful stimulus for socio-economic development of a country, it also plays an important role in improving people’s quality of life.
NPP is the largest infrastructural project which stimulates industrial development, creates new jobs and involves big number of local suppliers.“We expect that at construction stage of the first power unit localization level will reach up to 20%. It proves professionalism of local companies. Obviously their share will increase during construction of next power units as local companies involved in the project will get more and more experience in nuclear sector,” - Komarov added.
On the first day of the forum, representatives of Rosatom and its enterprises brought presentations to the audience: ASE Group (Engineering Division of Rosatom), Concern Rosenergoatom, Atomenergomash (Machinery Engineering Division), Alstom-Atomenergomash, RAOS Project OY company, implementing NPP construction in Finland, Rusatom Service, implementing NPPs service and modernization as well as personnel training. Speakers from NPPA and regulatory bodies of Russia (Rostechnadzor) and Egypt (ENRRA) also held presentations.
The participants of the first session were introduced to ROSATOM’s procurement system, its key requirements to the procurement documents, got information about procurement procedures on particular segments of equipment and services supply. Representatives of ASE Group presented current status of El Dabaa NPP project, planning and schedule of tenders procedures for the project. Representative of ENRRA told about licensing and certification of suppliers in nuclear industry of Egypt, while representative of Rostechnadzor shared experience of state engineering supervision of NPPs and licensing in Russia.
A separate session was dedicated to presentations of foreign suppliers, who shared their experience of implementation of complex engineering projects for Rosatom abroad. Representatives of such companies as Assystem, Sigma, MSA, Bouygues TP, Vinci Construction Grands Projets shares their experience of cooperation with Rosatom and participation in the tenders within Rosatom projects abroad.
More than 400 representatives of Egyptian companies from engineering, machine-building, equipment supplying segments take part in the seminar along with journalists from top Egyptian media. On a second day, a round table on the public acceptance of nuclear industry will take place, as well as specialized sessions dedicated to opportunities for local suppliers of different equipment and services and implementation of general construction works. Additionally, individual B2B business meetings will be held between Egyptian suppliers and representatives of Russian nuclear companies involved in El Dabaa project.