Russia, Egypt to Sign $26-Bln Contract in 1Q16 for Egypt's First NPP

Moscow and Cairo plan to sign a $26-billion contract on the construction of Egypt's first nuclear power plant.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Russia and Egypt plan on signing a contract worth $26 billion in the first quarter of 2016 on the construction of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant, a source from Russia’s Atomstroyexport nuclear agency said Monday.

“We plan to sign a contract worth more than $26 billion in the first quarter,” the source said.

The two countries struck a deal on November 19 on inter-governmental cooperation to build the nuclear power plant in Dabaa on the Mediterranean coast. It will comprise four units with a capacity of 1,200 MWt each, built using Russian technology.

Russia has also pledged its assistance in creating Egypt’s nuclear industry, including cooperation on various high-tech projects.

Russia, India to Sign Agreement on Construction of 5 Units at Kudankulam NPP

Russia and India plan to sign a general framework agreement in the beginning of 2016 for the construction of five of six units at the Kudankulam nuclear power plant, according to the source.

“A general framework agreement is planned to be signed at the beginning of next year,” the source said.

The Nuclear Power Corporation of India and Russia's nuclear agency Rosatom launched a much-delayed joint project to build the Kudankulam NPP in 2012. Unit 1 reached full capacity in July 2014, and is currently India’s most powerful reactor with a maximum operating capacity of 1,000 megawatt.

The Unit 2 is nearing completion. The construction of Unions 3 and 4 is planned for 2016.

Last week, reports emerged that the negotiations between Moscow and Delhi on the new Kudankulam energy units were underway.

The construction of the Kudankulam NPP was initially agreed by the Soviet Union and India in 1988, but as the Union collapsed soon after, the project was in limbo.