The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation announced today that its subsidiary Nawah Energy Company, responsible for the operation and maintenance of the Barakah peaceful nuclear energy plants, has completed the start-up process of the reactor at the second unit of the Barakah nuclear power plants in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi. The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and Nawah continue to cement the UAE's path of excellence in this sector through this achievement, which comes 12 months after the commissioning of the first unit and four months after its commercial operation. This highlights the significant progress made in safely completing the four Barakah plants on time, aiming to accelerate the reduction of the carbon footprint of the energy sector in the country.
With this achievement, the Barakah plants have become the first nuclear energy project in the region with multiple operational units, enhancing the country's economic growth by providing more abundant, reliable, and environmentally friendly electricity. This accomplishment also showcases the UAE's substantial capabilities in executing major projects through the development of its peaceful nuclear program, which adheres to all local regulatory requirements and international standards, as well as the skills, capabilities, and expertise of the teams at Barakah, led by Emirati competencies.
On this occasion, Saeed Mohammed Ibrahim Al-Hamadi, CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, stated: "Another achievement has been realized today in developing the UAE’s peaceful nuclear program as part of our mission to provide abundant and environmentally friendly electricity around the clock, where the Barakah plants support sustainable growth and prosperity in the country." Al-Hamadi added, "With the start of operations at the second unit in Barakah, we are now approximately halfway towards achieving our goal of providing up to a quarter of the UAE's electricity needs while simultaneously supporting the country's efforts to address climate change."
Al-Hamadi concluded by saying, "With the support and guidance of our wise leadership, the Barakah plants have become a model of excellence in delivering new nuclear energy programs, serving as an exemplar for countries wishing to add nuclear energy to their energy portfolios, especially since seven of the top ten most sustainable countries in the world utilize nuclear energy, which not only provides environmentally friendly electricity but also contributes to enhancing energy security and reliability."
Nawah Energy Company, a joint venture between the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), completed a comprehensive testing program prior to the successful start-up of the reactor at the second unit in Barakah. Commenting on this achievement, Ali Al-Hamadi, CEO of Nawah Energy Company, said: "On this significant occasion for the Barakah plants, we congratulate the distinguished teams on completing the start-up process of the second unit. Preparations will continue safely and steadily to connect the second unit to the main electricity grid, leading to the commercial operation of the second Barakah unit. We are committed to ensuring operational excellence for all Barakah plants, and we thank our partners in the country and around the world for their continuous support and assistance in achieving these achievements according to the highest operational performance standards."
The start of operations means that the reactor is generating heat for the first time through nuclear fission, and this heat is used to generate steam to turn turbines for electricity production. The qualified and certified nuclear reactor operation team at Nawah has conducted a series of safety tests to ensure the optimal performance of the start-up process, leveraging the similar experience from the first plant. These tests were conducted under the continuous supervision of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, the independent body responsible for regulating the nuclear sector in the UAE, following the completion of the pre-start operational review by the World Nuclear Operators Organization, which preceded the issuance of the operating license, confirming that the second unit adheres to best practices in the global nuclear energy sector.
Over the coming months, the second unit will be connected to the main electricity grid in the UAE, and the operations team will begin the process of gradually increasing the reactor's power output, known as "power ascension testing," while continuously monitoring this process until reaching the reactor's maximum production capacity, adhering to all regulatory requirements and the highest global standards for safety, quality, and security.
By supplying hundreds of thousands of businesses and homes with abundant and environmentally friendly electricity produced by the Barakah plants, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation leads the largest efforts in the region to reduce the carbon footprint, with the first unit in Barakah being the largest single source of electricity in the UAE. Once fully operational, the four Barakah plants will produce up to 5.6 gigawatts of electricity and will reduce carbon emissions by more than 21 million tons annually, equivalent to removing 3.2 million cars from the country's roads each year, which is comparable to the emissions resulting from charging 7.3 billion mobile phones daily.
