Will Egypt enter the floating nuclear power sector?

Egypt is weighing an entry into the floating nuclear power sector as talks advance with Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, over the potential deployment and localization of floating and small modular nuclear reactors (SMRs), RT Arabic reported.

Rosatom Chief Executive Officer Alexey Likhachev confirmed that Moscow and Cairo are actively discussing opportunities to collaborate on floating nuclear power plants (FNPPs) and compact land-based reactors, marking a potential expansion of Egypt’s long-term nuclear strategy beyond the land-based El-Dabaa project.

What are floating nuclear power plants?

Floating nuclear power plants are compact reactor units mounted on specially constructed vessels or offshore barges.

Designed to operate along coastlines and in remote regions, FNPPs generate electricity while simultaneously supplying thermal energy and large-scale seawater desalination—all without requiring extensive onshore civil infrastructure.

Interest in floating nuclear technology has surged worldwide as industrial electrification, large-scale desalination projects, and the rapid expansion of artificial intelligence data centers drive up global baseload power demand.

Unlike intermittent solar and wind installations, floating reactors deliver weather-independent, zero-carbon energy, making them a high-reliability complement to renewable power grids.

Russia’s operational lead and next-gen tech

Russia currently leads the commercial deployment of floating nuclear technology through Rosatom’s Akademik Lomonosov, the world’s first operational floating nuclear power plant.

Powered by two KLT-40S reactors, the vessel generates up to 70 megawatts of electricity, supplying power and heat to remote communities in Russia’s Arctic region.

Rosatom is now developing next-generation floating units centered around the advanced RITM-200 reactor series. Each RITM-200 unit outputs roughly 55 megawatts, featuring higher thermodynamic efficiency, extended operational lifespans, and streamlined maintenance protocols.

Strategic fit for Egypt’s coastlines

While the flagship $30 billion El-Dabaa plant remains Egypt’s central nuclear undertaking, bilateral discussions with Rosatom are increasingly focusing on the future deployment of RITM-200-based floating units.

If realized, these mobile reactors would supply reliable power and desalinated water to coastal municipalities, industrial corridors, deep-water ports, and major infrastructure projects spanning Egypt’s Mediterranean and Red Sea littoral zones—reinforcing national energy security and supporting carbon reduction goals.

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