The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has begun the process of loading fuel assemblies into the Unit 3 reactor of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, marking a key milestone towards nuclear-powered clean electricity in the UAE.
The milestone was marked after ENEC’s operating and maintenance subsidiary Nawah Energy Company received the operating license from the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) for Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, approving Unit 3 to operate alongside Units 1 and 2.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, said: “With this achievement, the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme is close to achieving its multiple economic, social and environmental objectives.
“The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant has become one of the premier pillars of sustainable development in the country, due to the abundant and environmentally-friendly power energy, in addition to its key role in the success of the transformation of the energy sector in the country towards total dependence on energy sources that are free of carbon emissions, by accelerating the reduction of the carbon footprint of this sector.”
The milestone also demonstrates the substantial and swift progress that has been made in developing nuclear energy as a strategically significant, clean, and abundant source of electricity for the UAE, while transforming the country’s energy landscape and enhancing national energy security, the state-run news agency, Wam, reported.
The managing director and chief executive officer of ENEC, Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, said: “We are delighted to receive the operating license for Unit 3 at the Barakah Plant, and we look forward to the start of reliable electricity production alongside Units 1 and 2 in the coming months.
“We are rapidly delivering a practical climate solution on the ground, enabling the UAE’s large-scale decarbonisation efforts alongside its economic growth, and leading the way to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.”
Receipt of the Unit 3 operating license confirms that the Plant, people, programmes, policies and procedures meet FANR’s robust standards, after conducting 120 unit-specific reviews and inspections.
Al Hammadi added: “The success and benefits of bringing each Unit at Barakah into operation in consecutive years since Unit 1 in 2020 showcase the significant benefits of developing a multi-unit nuclear energy plant in driving energy security and sustainability for nations that commit to the long-term development process of a civil nuclear programme.”
In addition, all voluntary reviews by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) have been successfully completed. Prior to the license from FANR, WANO completed a Pre Start-Up Review (PSUR), confirming the Unit’s readiness for operation.
Engineer Ali Al Hammadi, the chief executive officer of Nawah, which is mandated to operate and maintain the Barakah Plant, commented: “Receiving the third Operating License for the Barakah Plant is the result of over 520 rigorous reviews to date from our independent regulator, FANR, of which 120 are related specifically to Unit 3.
“The reviews cover every aspect of the plant to ensure we are ready to operate in line with national regulatory requirements. Successfully passing these reviews is testament to the expertise we have developed and the outstanding operating experience of our teams, made up of highly-skilled and qualified UAE nationals and international experts.”
He added: “As they make progress in bringing another unit into the operations phase, we are proud of our highly qualified professionals for their dedication and achieving the milestones in accordance with the highest standards of performance and operational excellence.”
This is the third unit that will enter the operational phase in the last three years, leveraging the expertise and experience of the operating teams, and the knowledge gained during the loading of fuel into Unit 1 in February 2020 and Unit 2 in March 2021.
With the completion of the fuel load process, the operations team will proceed with preparations for startup of the Unit later this year, followed by the delivery of the first megawatts of clean and reliable electricity.
For more than a decade, ENEC has implemented a robust training and qualifications program to ensure that it has the certified nuclear plant operators and engineers to safely operate three nuclear units at the same time.
When it begins to operate at full power within the coming months, the third unit will add a further 1,400 megawatts of zero-carbon emission electricity to the national grid, similar to each of the other two reactor Units, propelling the country ahead in meeting its goal of achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050.
The Barakah Plant is the only multi-unit nuclear energy plant operating in the Arab world. A powerhouse for the nation’s sustainable development and stability, the Plant generates high-value jobs and stimulates the growth of local industries. Barakah also provides significant environmental benefits for the nation today and for the next 60 years and beyond, through rapid decarbonisation of the energy sector. When fully operational, the Plant will prevent 22.4 million tons of carbon emissions – the leading cause of climate change – every year.
The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, located in the Al Dhafra region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is one of the largest nuclear energy plants in the world, with four APR-1400 Units. Unit 4 is in the final stages of commissioning prior to construction completion.
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