MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Thursday's agreement between Russia and Egypt to build the Arab Republic's first nuclear power plant shows the two countries' will to cooperate despite current issues in the field of tourism, Egypt's Ambassador to Russia Mohamed El-Badri told Sputnik.
Earlier in the day, Russia's state nuclear corporation Rosatom CEO Sergei Kirienko and Egypt's Minister of Electricity and Renewable Energy Mohamed Shaker signed an agreement to build a power plant consisting of four nuclear power units, 1,200 megawatt (MW) each in the northern Egyptian town of Dabaa.
"Yes, it comes amidst a slight problem reflected in tourism, regarding the flights and the resumption of the flights, but this shows the resolve and the will of the two countries to cooperate to end this, and it will end soon, we hope," El-Badri said.
He added that this project is very important project for both Egypt and Russia that demonstrates the strategic character of partnership between the two countries.
"It is a very happy day for the Egyptians, it is a long awaited dream of the Egyptians to have a nuclear power plant for peaceful use," the ambassador added.
According to Rosatom, a group of Russian specialists has already arrived at the NPP construction site in Dabaa. The plant is expected to be constructed within 12 years.
