Nuclear Energy and Techno-Nationalism in Egypt

The document analyzes Egypt's long-term pursuit of nuclear energy, framing the current Dabaa project as a 'techno-nationalist' mega-project under President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. It highlights the lack of transparency in the selection of ROSATOM as a partner, the financial burden of a $25 billion loan, and the government's tendency to prioritize national prestige over public consultation and safety transparency.

• Egypt's nuclear ambitions have spanned over 60 years, with successive presidents pursuing the goal as a symbol of national pride and technological modernism, though projects were frequently paused due to geopolitical conflicts or safety disasters like Chernobyl.
• The Dabaa nuclear power plant is part of a broader strategy by President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to implement large-scale 'mega-projects' that serve as symbols of national prestige and 'techno-nationalism' rather than being driven solely by energy or economic needs.
• The project is primarily financed through a $25 billion loan from Russia's ROSATOM, which is repayable over a period of 22 years.
• The selection of Russia as the strategic partner was conducted through a non-transparent process that excluded public oversight, despite tenders being submitted by the US, France, Japan, South Korea, and China.
• There is significant ambiguity and a lack of transparency regarding the management of spent nuclear fuel, with conflicting reports on whether it will be exported to Russia or stored domestically after 100 years.
• The Egyptian government has responded to safety concerns—including those following a 2019 nuclear explosion at a ROSATOM facility in Severodvinsk—by relying on 'technological fetishism' and assurances from the provider rather than open public debate.

APA

TAHA, H. (2020). Nuclear Energy and Techno-Nationalism in Egypt. South African Institute of International Affairs. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Policy-Briefing-208-taha-002.pdf

Chicago

TAHA, HEBA. Nuclear Energy and Techno-Nationalism in Egypt. South African Institute of International Affairs, 2020. https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Policy-Briefing-208-taha-002.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=TAHA |first1=HEBA |title=Nuclear Energy and Techno-Nationalism in Egypt |publisher=South African Institute of International Affairs |date=September 2020 |url=https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Policy-Briefing-208-taha-002.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{taha2020nuclear, author = {TAHA, HEBA}, title = {{Nuclear Energy and Techno-Nationalism in Egypt}}, institution = {South African Institute of International Affairs}, year = {2020}, month = sep, url = {https://saiia.org.za/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Policy-Briefing-208-taha-002.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }