The rise of UAE’s Barakah from sandy beach to nuclear power plant

The Barakah project is the gold standard for nuclear programme development, writes Hans Blix

The simulator training centre at the nuclear power plant in Barakah. Christopher Pike / The National

I welcome the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation’s recent announcement concerning initial completion of construction activities at Unit 1 at the nation’s first nuclear power plant and the path forward to commercial operation and I am happy to make the following comments.

I have had the privilege of closely observing the UAE’s programme since the very beginning, starting in 2009, as part of the international advisory board. Along the way, I continue to be impressed that a nuclear newcomer nation remains openly engaged, seeking advice and making effective and appropriate decisions at each stage of development.

During my decades working in nuclear energy, I have seen the nuclear industry evolve and advance, learning from international operating experience as countries around the world contribute to our collective knowledge and help sustain this important and growing energy source. As it prepares to become the first nuclear energy newcomer nation in decades, the UAE not only benefits from this knowledge, but also contributes to it by sharing the unique experience of building a new industry in the country.

Establishing a peaceful nuclear energy programme from the ground up is a complex and ambitious undertaking that needs a great deal of planning right from the start. Done properly, the payoff is immense. When complete, the four units at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant will add 5.6 gigawatts of electricity to the UAE grid without adding any greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. Eight years ago, Barakah was nothing more than a stretch of sandy beach. It is now a site to behold with four identical units dominating the skyline. As I have said, this is quite an achievement.

Through my involvement as chairman of the International Advisory Board to the UAE government, I have had unlimited access to the programme. Here are a few examples of what I have seen.

In accordance with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s guidelines for nuclear newcomer nations, the UAE established a strong and independent regulator in the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation. It ensured the regulator had a clear, distinct and independent role from ENEC and the future operator, Nawah.

It selected an advanced reactor design and entered an agreement with a reputable international vendor for construction and operations.

It has worked diligently to establish and develop a nuclear energy workforce, growing and learning side by side with experienced nuclear talent from around the world.

When quality assurance concerns arose with respect to certain elements in the supply chain, ENEC and the UAE acted swiftly and responsibly to resolve the issues and move the project forward.

The UAE also took decisive action to adopt post-Fukushima design modifications, and take precautions against the remote possibility of a tsunami, earthquakes and rising sea levels in the Gulf. It also implemented recommendations on the location of emergency power generators and on facilitating and sustaining robust communications between government agencies.

In addition ENEC’s robust security plans and state-of-the-art protection systems demonstrate that with the right planning a nation can benefit greatly from the use of peaceful and safe nuclear energy.

The project in the UAE has been referred to as the gold standard for nuclear programme development and that characterisation has been well earned. I continue to see a level of commitment that consistently lets a culture of safety and responsibility drive decisionmaking and the timetable. Quality and security remain the priority. This latest announcement reinforces that commitment and the confidence that stems from it.

Hans Blix is a former director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency. He is chairman of the UAE’s International Advisory Board, which provides an expert, independent assessment of the UAE’s nuclear energy programme and reports directly to the nation’s leadership