Nuclear Energy and Techno-Nationalism in Egypt

This policy brief examines the political drivers and historical context of Egypt's nuclear power plant project in Dabaa, developed in partnership with Russia's ROSATOM. The author argues that the project is framed as a 'techno-nationalist' mega-project linked to national prestige and self-sufficiency, rather than being based solely on energy or economic needs. The document highlights a lack of transparency in decision-making, public consultation, and the management of safety risks and spent fuel.

• Egypt's nuclear ambitions date back to 1954, with successive presidents pursuing nuclear energy as a symbol of national pride and technological modernism. Early efforts included a pilot plant at Inshas operational by 1961 and a proposed facility at Sidi Krir in 1964 that never materialised.
• The current project to build a nuclear power plant in Dabaa is part of a broader strategy by President Abd al-Fattah al-Sisi to implement mega-development projects, including the expansion of the Suez Canal and a new administrative capital near Cairo.
• The Dabaa project is primarily funded by a $25 billion loan from ROSATOM, repayable over 22 years. While tenders were submitted by the US, France, Japan, South Korea, and China, the selection of Russia was not open to public scrutiny.
• There is significant ambiguity and a lack of transparency regarding the management of spent nuclear fuel. While some sources suggest fuel would be exported to Russia and then re-imported for storage, the head of the Nuclear Power Plants Authority (NPPA) has dismissed these claims as rumours.
• Public opposition in Dabaa, which included sit-in protests and clashes during the Arab Spring, was resolved after President Sisi agreed to build a new tourist city and provide new homes for residents at a cost of approximately EGP 1 billion ($62 million).
• Safety concerns rose among Egyptian civil society following a August 2019 nuclear explosion at a ROSATOM-controlled test base in Severodvinsk, Russia. The Egyptian government dismissed these fears as 'misplaced and exaggerated', relying on ROSATOM's claims that the Dabaa plant would be the 'world’s safest'.
• The author concludes that the project is driven by 'technological fetishism' and national prestige, leading to a lack of critical discussion regarding technological limitations, potential failures, and the project's actual necessity and cost.

APA

South African Institute of International Affairs (2020). Nuclear Energy and Techno-Nationalism in Egypt. https://saiia.org.za/research/nuclear-energy-and-techno-nationalism-in-egypt/

Chicago

South African Institute of International Affairs. Nuclear Energy and Techno-Nationalism in Egypt. 2020. https://saiia.org.za/research/nuclear-energy-and-techno-nationalism-in-egypt/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=South African Institute of International Affairs |title=Nuclear Energy and Techno-Nationalism in Egypt |date=23 September 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/research/nuclear-energy-and-techno-nationalism-in-egypt/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{southafricaninstituteofinternationalaffairs2020nuclear, author = {{South African Institute of International Affairs}}, title = {{Nuclear Energy and Techno-Nationalism in Egypt}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/research/nuclear-energy-and-techno-nationalism-in-egypt/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }