A media gag order was imposed Monday on reports involving the Dabaa nuclear project in Egypt, state-owned MENA news agency reported. According to the order, nothing may be published about the Dabaa nuclear project in Egyptian media without gaining permission from security authorities or the office of the minister of electricity. No clear details have been revealed about the media gag, including the reason behind it or from where the order was issued. The gag order was issued shortly after a meeting between President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and Minister of Electricity Mohamed Shaker where they discussed the latest developments regarding the Dabaa nuclear project. In a statement issued on Monday, the Egyptian presidency said that Shaker discussed with the president his talks with Russian officials on the Dabaa nuclear project during his recent visit to Russia. In November, the Egyptian government signed an agreement with Russia to build Egypt's first nuclear power plant in Dabaa. The plant, expected to be constructed in Marsa Matrouh governorate within 12 years, will consist of four nuclear power units with 1,200 megawatts (MW) each. In 2009, the now-dissolved National Democratic Party planned to build a nuclear power plant on the site, but the project was halted due to political turmoil. It was revived in 2013 under interim president Adly Mansour. Following the ouster of former president Mohamed Morsi in 2013, Egyptian-Russian relations have been strengthened in terms of diplomatic and military cooperation. The nuclear plant project will be used to alleviate a significant electricity shortage that has caused frequent blackouts in recent years. source: Ahram Online
