The UAE officially announced the completion of the construction of the first of four units of Barak NPP.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and President of the Republic of Korea Moon Jaein announced the completion of the first unit of a nuclear power plant in the UAE, in the Al-Gharbiya region, 250 km from Abu Dhabi.
Senior officials visited the construction site and noted the importance of the entire project, which makes the UAE the first Arab country with a nuclear power plant, as well as the first newcomer country in nuclear power since 1985.
The construction phase of Block 1 is completed, and now the project is preparing to obtain a license from Atomnadzor (FANR).
The construction was completed only thanks to the close cooperation of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and its general contractor, and a partner in the joint venture, Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO).
The construction of the first block took 69 months, while the requirements of Atomnadzor were strictly observed.
Here's what Sheikh Mohammed Ibn Zayd said on this occasion: “The completion of the first unit of the Barak NPP is a historic moment in the development of our country. The UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy program will play a strategic role in the development of the state by improving energy security, diversifying the economy and creating workers places for our citizens, thereby helping secure the future of future generations. "
ENEC selected KEPCO as the general contractor for the construction of the Barak NPP in 2009.
“Nuclear power is strategically important for the future of the country,” said Haldun Al Mubarak, chairman of ENEC.
"Now that the construction of the first unit is completed, the UAE has joined the elite group of countries that have managed to build such a complex facility that meets the highest standards of safety and quality ... Now our efforts are aimed at safely launching the first unit of the nuclear power plant."
It is worth noting that the Baraka NPP is the largest new nuclear power project in the world, it employs 4 APR-1400 reactors.
Reactors 2, 3, and 4 were completed at 92, 81, and 66 percent, respectively.
To date, the construction of the Barak NPP has been 86% completed. After the commissioning of all four reactors, the facility will provide about 25% of the country's electricity needs, and carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by 21 million tons per year.
