From 9 to 11 of April, 2016, Nuclear Energy Week was held at Alexandria University in Egypt. Alexandria University is one of the oldest and most respected universities in the country. Nuclear Energy Week is held on the grounds of the Faculty of Engineering and is one of the key industry events in Egypt. The event was organized by the Nuclear Power Plant Authority of Egypt (NPPA), Egyptian Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority (ENRRA), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA) and Nuclear Materials Authority of Egypt (NMA).
This year, Rosatom acted as a partner and co-organizer of the event, and held a seminar dedicated to leading Russian nuclear technologies within the framework of the Week. In addition, Rosatom presented an exhibition dedicated to key facts on the company and its unique advantages on the global nuclear technologies market.
The opening ceremony of Nuclear Energy Week was attended by Executive Director of the NPPA Dr. Khalil Yasso and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering of Alexandria University, Dr. Abdul Alziz Hassanein Mohammed Saad Qansuh. The head of the Russian Center for Science and Culture in Egypt Alexey Tevanian made a keynote speech on behalf of the Russian party. In his speech, A. Tevanian stressed that Russia and Egypt are long-standing strategic partners, including in the nuclear field. "Back in the day, a number of Egyptian experts went through the Soviet scientific and research nuclear schools. Russian-Egyptian relations in the field of technological cooperation are experiencing a new stage of development, key to which is the construction of the El Dabaa nuclear power plant,’ Tevanian said.
According to Tevanian, the construction of Egypt’s first NPP will not only mark an important milestone in the development of Egypt’s energy sector, but will also give an impetus to other sectors of the economy, accelerate socio-economic and technological progress and create new jobs. Addressing the audience, A. Tevanian added: "In order to implement such an ambitious task, the country needs highly qualified cadre. It is quite symbolic that Rosatom is holding the first seminar on Russian nuclear technologies in Egypt within the walls of the oldest university in the country. You are the future of nuclear energy and engineering in Egypt."
During the seminar, the audience comprising teachers and students of the University, representatives of the nuclear regulator, professional associations and industry-leading companies was given presentations on Rosatom’s pioneering technologies and many years of experience in the design and construction of NPPs in Russia and abroad; competencies required for the successful construction and operation of NPPs and nuclear power plant safety systems, including Rosatom's experience in the field of environmental management. The presentations were delivered representatives of Rosatom enterprises that included Atomstroyexport (JSC ASE), Rosenergoatom Concern OJSC, Rusatom International Network and so on.
The participants expressed a high level of interest in the presentation delivered by a representative of JSC Rusatom Overseas Inc. on nuclear education in Russia, in which the audience received information on opportunities for Egyptian students for studying at Russia’s leading nuclear universities. In particular, these include the contest "Nuclear Education in Russia", the winners will have the opportunity to study at one of the leading nuclear universities in Russia under the program of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russia, implemented jointly with Rosatom.