Egypt Advances Dabaa Nuclear Project with Rosatom Amid Leaked Safety Concerns

Egypt is pushing ahead with its Dabaa nuclear power plant on the Mediterranean coast, holding talks with Russia's Rosatom in Nizhny Novgorod this week, despite mounting international scrutiny of alleged construction defects and safety-culture failings at the site.

Egypt's Electricity and Renewable Energy Minister Mahmoud Esmat met Alexey Likhachev, director general of the Russian state nuclear corporation, on Tuesday, alongside delegations from both sides. They reviewed progress at the four-unit plant and followed up on construction timelines, according to a statement from Egypt's Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy. Both parties underscored the importance of continued co-ordination to maintain adherence to schedules, quality measures, and nuclear-safety standards.

Mr Esmat described the plant as one of Egypt's most vital national and strategic initiatives, designed to diversify the country's energy mix while strengthening energy security and sustainability. He noted tangible progress in execution and stated that his ministry monitors the work continuously alongside the Russian side and Egyptian authorities.

Mr Likhachev reaffirmed Rosatom's commitment to delivering the project on schedule and in compliance with strict quality and safety standards. Mr Esmat also held a separate meeting with the head of a Rosatom subsidiary specializing in small modular reactors to review technological developments and potential applications in power generation, industrial demand, and remote areas.

Leaked Documents and Safety Scrutiny

These high-level talks follow a recent Politico investigation alleging serious construction and safety-culture issues at Dabaa, based on internal Egyptian and Russian documents. A confidential letter dated June 4 from Egypt's Nuclear Power Plants Authority to Rosatom reportedly warned of deliberate negligence and safety breaches, citing voids behind metallic liner work at Unit 4, foundation slab defects in Units 1, 2, and 3 that required a year to repair, and structural flaws in the cylindrical wall of the Unit 4 reactor building.

Additionally, a separate Rosatom internal audit warned of a potential delay of up to 18 months for the first unit, shifting its target from September 2028 to March 2030. Egypt's Ministry of Electricity and Renewable Energy did not respond to requests for comment regarding these specific allegations.

Government officials have insisted that no nuclear fuel has been introduced at the Dabaa construction site and that no radiological incidents have occurred. The Nuclear Power Plants Authority and the Cabinet emphasized that identifying technical non-conformities during construction is normal for a project of this magnitude, and that no phase is accepted without formal resolution procedures and structural testing. Furthermore, officials highlighted a recent International Atomic Energy Agency Integrated Regulatory Review Service mission concluding in June, which found that Egypt maintains a comprehensive regulatory and oversight framework.

Rosatom stated that none of the allegations have been verified through formal contractual, technical, or supervisory procedures. Meanwhile, the European Commission noted it was unaware of the confidential documents, reiterating that nuclear safety remains a key priority for the bloc. The reporting has drawn extra attention in the EU because Rosatom is also utilizing the same VVER-1200 reactor technology for the Paks II plant in Hungary. Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly previously stated in July that he expects all four Dabaa reactors to be completed by 2030, with the first unit generating power by 2028.