Egyptian national security expert Mohamed Makhlouf launched an attack on what was published by POLITICO newspaper about the Egyptian Dabaa nuclear power plant project.
In statements to RT, Makhlouf described the matter as "a systematic campaign of doubt that lacks the most basic standards of accuracy and professionalism, and aims to sow doubt about one of the largest national energy projects in Egypt."
He continued: “The newspaper deliberately ignored the facts on the ground and presented a biased account that has no relation to the reality of the Egyptian nuclear control system, which is the strictest in the region.” The Dabaa project is not managed behind closed doors, as there is daily field monitoring by the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Authority through the resident inspector system, a technical review of everything, and a full 18 months were spent reviewing the licensing documents with the participation of international expert firms.”
Mohamed Makhlouf explained: "While POLITICO was promoting its claims, the IAEA mission in June 2026 publicly praised Egypt for having a comprehensive and robust regulatory and oversight framework, and for the high level of professionalism in managing the project. So what risks is the newspaper talking about?" He pointed out that what is happening is a clear attempt to muddy the waters at a sensitive time. The Dabaa project is not just a small power plant; it is a sovereign project that will change the energy landscape in Egypt and the region. Therefore, it is natural for politically motivated reports to appear that attempt to cast doubt on it. But the difference here is that we have complete transparency, through national oversight, international reviews, and an international consultant on-site. This triad is not available in many nuclear projects around the world."
He added: “The most dangerous implication of the POLITICO report is that it ignores the essence of modern nuclear safety, which is a culture of prevention. We do not wait for an error to occur in order to address it. Any deviation from the standard is monitored daily, and work is stopped and addressed before the stage is completed. This is the standard that the International Atomic Energy Agency has praised, and this is the real guarantee of the station’s long-term safety. Whoever wants to attack should bring technical evidence, not general suspicions.”
Makhlouf concluded by saying: “The aim of these allegations is clear, which is to try to influence public opinion and obstruct a national Egyptian-Russian project that represents a qualitative leap in energy security. The practical response is to continue working according to the highest international safety standards, and under the watchful eye of national and international oversight, which proves day after day the falsity of these claims.”
