Egypt's Sisi urges quicker pace to built Dabaa nuclear station

CAIRO, Dec. 13 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Wednesday directed the government to accelerate steps regarding the establishment of Dabaa nuclear power station, Egyptian Presidency spokesman Bassam Radi said.

In a statement, Rady said that President Sisi held a meeting here with Acting Prime Minister and Minister of Housing Mostafa Madbouli, Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker and Minister of Finance Amr al-Garhi to discuss the project of building Egypt's first nuclear power plant.

Electricity minister presented a report on the Dabaa nuclear plant and preliminary preparations for implementing the project, Rady said.

The finance minister reviewed ways to pay off the total costs of the project, he added.

Meanwhile, the electricity minister reviewed the ministry's plan to develop electricity services offered to citizens and measures taken to improve the service and upgrade the electricity distribution and transfer network across the country.

On Monday, Egypt and Russia signed an agreement to build a nuclear power plant in Egypt.

The agreement was inked in Cairo in the presence of President Sisi and his visiting counterpart Vladimir Putin.

Under the deal, Moscow will provide 80 percent of the foreign components of the plant, while Egypt provides 20 percent.

The plant will be erected in Dabaa city in Egypt's coastal Matrouh province. Enditem