Licensing technical support for a nuclear power plant in Egypt

Context and challenges

The Arab Republic of Egypt has been interested in building a power plant since the 1970s. As early as the 1980s, the site of El Dabaa (in the Libyan desert, west of Alexandria) was pre-selected.

In 2015, the process will accelerate with the signing of an intergovernmental agreement between Egypt and Russia. Following this, an EPC-type contract is finalised between the future Egyptian operator (NPPA) and a major player in the nuclear industry for the supply of 4 units of VVER-1200 type nuclear reactors. The El Dabaa site was approved in 2019. In 2020, the project is at the stage of preparation of the file to apply for a building permit.

In this context, this client, a major player in nuclear, called upon Assystem to provide technical support to the Licensing process of the El Dabaa power plant in the context of the contractualization of a framework agreement. This includes in particular the elaboration of the documentary documents necessary to obtain the authorizations that milestone a nuclear power plant project (site approval, construction permit, test and commissioning permit, fuel loading permit, operating authorization).

Project scope

Independent technical review of technical documents produced by the client for authorization and permit applications
Support to the implementation of the Licensing strategy for Units 1 to 4 of the plant in accordance with the EPC (Engineering Procurement Construction) contract requirements
Review of the PSAR (Preliminary Safety Analysis Report) and PSA (Safety Analysis Report) and technical support to the client following the review of the documents by the future operator.
Drafting of the Construction Management Plan and support to the client until validation of the document by the future operator.
Drafting of the Organisation and Management part of the Waste Management Plan
Updating of documents (Construction Management Plan, Method Statement, Work Execution Plan, Waste Management Plan) to comply with the EPC contract and international requirements.
Support to project and EPC contract management (monitoring of developments, technical justifications for changes, support to the awarding of implementation contracts)

Results

Independent technical review of documents issued by the client to:
- Ensure compliance with the technical requirements of the contract and with international standards (EUR - European Utility Requirements: requirements of European electricians, IAEA - International Atomic Energy Agency guides)
- Ensure the integration of international best practices
- Reduce the risk of non-compliance
Taking into account by the client of design modifications for adaptation to site conditions through technical support and justification (technical feasibility of different possible solutions, feedback from other international projects)
Helping to integrate the multicultural aspects of the project, reducing the risk of misunderstanding technical requirements or documents by advising on the project strategy and communication with the future operator