The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation announced the completion of the fuel loading process in the reactor of the fourth plant at Barakah Nuclear Energy Stations, in accordance with local regulations and the highest global standards. This follows the issuance of an operating license for the fourth plant's operational arm, Nawah Energy Company, by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, marking an important step towards the full operation of all four Barakah plants, the largest single source of clean electricity in the region.
The three operational plants in Barakah, which began commercial operation over three years ago, produce more than 30 terawatt-hours of carbon-free electricity annually. Once the fourth plant begins commercial operation, it will increase the total clean electricity production capacity at Barakah to 5.6 gigawatts, providing more than 40 terawatt-hours of clean electricity to the United Arab Emirates' power grid each year, which is equivalent to 25% of the country's electricity needs. This will also reduce millions of tons of carbon emissions, the main cause of climate change.
Operational teams at Barakah will implement a comprehensive testing program before the start of the fourth reactor's operation, with all tests conducted under the continuous supervision of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation. After connecting the fourth plant to the national electricity grid, the operational teams will gradually raise the power levels in the reactor through a process known as "power ascension testing," where each phase of the test will be continuously monitored and evaluated until reaching the maximum electricity output, followed by commercial operation of the plant after several months in accordance with local regulatory requirements and the highest global safety and quality standards.
The Barakah plants play a crucial role in accelerating the reduction of the carbon footprint in the energy sector in the country, particularly for heavy industries and sectors where this is challenging. With the expected start of the fourth plant in 2024, the strategy of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation focuses on enhancing the country's investments in the nuclear energy sector, closely collaborating with key global partners and technology companies to explore and select suitable technologies to meet the increasing demand for clean electricity.
As part of this strategy, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation recently launched the "Advanced Nuclear Energy Technologies Program," aimed at developing and utilizing the latest advancements in nuclear energy technology, enhancing the UAE's leading role in the global transition to clean energy sources and achieving climate neutrality.
As Barakah plants approach full operation, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation is concentrating its efforts on evaluating the latest technologies in small modular reactors and smaller reactors to produce steam, hydrogen, ammonia, along with heat for industrial processes. To this end, the corporation is collaborating with local partners to identify ways to utilize these advanced technologies and with partners worldwide to select technology and collaborate on related project implementation.
Barakah plants, which play a fundamental role in the international nuclear energy sector, consist of four "APR-1400" reactors, making them one of the largest nuclear energy facilities in the world, playing a key role in the country’s transition to clean energy sources and achieving climate neutrality by 2050, especially as the plants have become the largest source of environmentally friendly electricity in the region, leading efforts to reduce the country's carbon footprint.
