Nuclear energy is clean energy, but Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) is taking its commitment to the environment further with the announcement that it will cultivate 500,000 coral reefs over the next three years around the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the Al Dhafra Region. By 2030, the partnership aims to cultivate four million coral colonies.
ENEC has signed a partnership agreement with the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi (EAD) to implement a pioneering project that will enhance marine biodiversity and preserve marine ecosystems in Abu Dhabi.
The project aims to establish coral nurseries and cultivate coral species that can withstand high temperatures. It will also implement environmental monitoring programmes and cultivate 500,000 coral colonies over the next three years.
ENEC will provide the necessary funding and resources, while EAD will oversee the project’s implementation and prepare scientific reports.
Dr Shaikha Salem Al Dhaheri, Secretary-General of the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi, said: “This project represents an important step in the emirate’s efforts to protect marine ecosystems and support regional and global initiatives to conserve coral reefs through the application of best environmental practices and the promotion of specialised scientific research.
“The partnership combines our scientific and technical expertise in conserving marine ecosystems with the company’s support, ensuring the project is implemented according to the highest international standards. This cooperation also represents a practical model for enhancing sustainability efforts, consolidating Abu Dhabi’s leadership in the field of environmental innovation, and protecting its natural resources for future generations.”
Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer at Emirates Nuclear Energy Company, added: “ENEC plays a pivotal role in promoting sustainability and ensuring energy security in the UAE through the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. Preserving the marine environment and its natural resources is a top priority for the company. This project is part of our commitment to integrating sustainability into all our operations and projects.
“The partnership represents an opportunity to combine the scientific and technical expertise of the agency and the company to achieve shared environmental goals. This is a significant contribution to enhancing the resilience of coral reefs in the face of climate change and supporting Abu Dhabi’s position as a global capital in the field of marine environment protection.”
EAD is a leading regional agency in the field of coral reef restoration, having successfully cultured more than 1.45 million coral colonies as part of the Gulf’s largest coral reef rehabilitation project, launched in 2021 by His Highnes Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The project has achieved great success, recording a 95 per cent survival rate of cultured coral after the summer season, and a 50 per cent increase in fish biomass.
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