Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) —  On 19 November, work began on the installation of the melt-down arrestor (a key safety component known as the "melt-down trap") at Unit 4 of the El-Dabaa Nuclear Power Plant in the Arab Republic of Egypt. The general designer and contractor for the project is the Engineering Division of the Russian State Corporation Rosatom.

The "melt-down trap" is a critical safety feature for generation 3+ nuclear reactors. The trap consists of several components, with a total weight exceeding 700 tons (the weight of the melt-down arrestor casing itself is 155 tons).

“The melt-down arrestor is one of the key safety components for generation 3+ reactors. It is symbolic that we are starting its installation on the fourth unit of the plant on November 19, the Day of Nuclear Energy, celebrated in Egypt. Work on the construction of all four units of Egypt’s first nuclear power plant is progressing according to schedule and in compliance with international standards. In every project, Rosatom places safety at the forefront, and the Egyptian project is no exception,” commented Alexey Likhachev, CEO of Rosatom.

Egypt’s Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy, Mahmoud Esmat, confirmed that the El-Dabaa nuclear plant project is under constant supervision and that the work is proceeding on schedule, with plans to complete all stages and connect the plant to the grid. He also highlighted the energy sector’s strategy, which focuses on energy balance, diversification of power generation sources, and the use of new, renewable, and clean energy to reduce fuel consumption and lower carbon emissions. Mahmoud Esmat emphasized the importance of peaceful nuclear energy in the country’s sustainable development strategy, particularly in electricity production.