Energy and Electricity Minister Hasan Younis announced at a press conference on Sunday that Egypt was in the process of finalizing specifications for its first nuclear reactor. The minister noted that international bidding for construction of the reactor would be accepted by the end of this year.
Younis went on to say that contracts would be signed with the US, Russia and a number of other Western countries to train personnel to manage the reactor.
The minister stated that recent studies had shown that the Dabaa site, situated near the resort town of Marsa Matrouh on Egypt’s North Coast, was the most suitable location for the new reactor. The Nuclear Safety Authority, he said, was currently analyzing the area.
Approval of the site by the authority would constitute a first step towards obtaining the necessary licensing to construct the reactor, Younis added.
Translated from the Arabic Edition.
