No Dabaa contracts will be signed this year? Just like Bigfoot, UFO sightings, and the Yeti, the rumors swirling around the Dabaa nuclear power plant signing date are endless. Apparently, the contracts have not been fully reviewed by the Council of State (Maglis El Dawla) and it is unlikely signoff will come this year, according to Al Mal, which cites unnamed “high level sources in the Electricity Ministry.” We had heard last week that the contracts were reviewed by the Maglis and sent to Ittihadiya. All we were awaiting on is Russian President Vladimir Putin clearing his schedule to attend the signing, which was supposed to be held this month, with rumors suggesting it would take place at the 75th anniversary of the battle of Alamein on 21 October.

Dabaa and restoring Russian flights might be in question, but we are hearing that actual progress is being made on the Russian Industrial Zone (RIZ). Suez Canal Economic Zone Chairman Mohab Mamish said on Wednesday that an agreement has been reached on the RIZ and he expects them to be signed in the coming months, confirming statements made a day earlier by Trade and Industry Minister Tarek Kabil.