El-Dabaa (Egypt) and Paks-II (Hungary) NPPs are new and significant international projects. Now that the first large-sized equipment, such as a core catcher, is installed, subsequent construction of the reactor shaft is possible.The first large-sized equipment – a core catcher (a part of the NPP passive safety system) was delivered to the construction site of Paks-II NPP (Hungary) new power units.
Earlier this summer, on July 1, 2024, the core catcher for Unit 3 was delivered to the construction site of the El-Dabaa NPP in the Arab Republic of Egypt.
“It is symbolic that the first large-sized equipment which arrived at Paks-II NPP construction site is an element of the passive safety system. Thus, reliability and safety of the new Hungarian NPP is provided long before the commencement of its operation. We are making every effort so that at the end of 2024 – beginning of 2025 we can start the construction of the power units and subsequent installation of the core catcher – an important element of the passive safety system of the new Hungarian NPP,” Vitaly Polyanin, Vice President of ASE JSC, Director of Paks-II NPP Construction Project said.
The core catcher is a part of the passive safety system, designed to prevent the release of radioactive substances into the environment in the event of a severe accident accompanied by destruction of the reactor vessel.
The “trap” is a container with a steel casing, which, in the event of an emergency, reliably holds fragments of the core melt and does not allow them to escape beyond the sealed shell of the reactor building. The components of the core catcher for Paks-II NPP Unit 5 were transported from Russia by water, from Volgodonsk to Paks.
The transportation lasted for 48 days, in total the vessels covered 3200 km. Specialists perform preparatory works for construction of Unit 5, where the core catcher is intended, according to the schedule. Currently, soil stabilisation is nearing completion, preparation for ground extraction from the pit to the design elevation of 23 meters is underway, which is a pre-condition for beginning the preparation of the foundation slab and subsequent large-scale works for construction of the new power facility.
Both Paks-II and El-Dabaa NPPs are international projects of Rosatom, a global leader in nuclear technologies. Top Egyptian, Russian and Hungarian, as well as other countries companies are involved in works at the construction site.
“Our common goal with the general contractor is construction of a safe nuclear power plant within the shortest possible period. Currently, 900 specialists are engaged at the site,” said Gergely Jákli, President and Director General of Paks II Zrt.
Nuclear energy can be considered as a vital element of the energy mix. Africa is actively engaged in developing nuclear projects across the continent. Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Morocco, Niger, Nigeria and Sudan have already engaged with the IAEA to assess their readiness to embark on a nuclear programme. Algeria, Tunisia, Uganda and Zambia are also mulling the possibility of nuclear power. Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, Mali, the Republic of Guinea, Burundi have signed memorandums with Rosatom to establish strong nuclear energy ties.
