Second unit at Barakah Nuclear Plant begins commercial operations

Federal nuclear regulator confirms latest development

The UAE has issued an operating licence for the fourth and final unit of its Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. FANR

Unit three of Abu Dhabi's Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant started commercial operations in February. Photo: Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation

A view of the Barakah nuclear site under construction in 2012.

Unit 1 being built in 2013 in the Western region of Abu Dhabi.

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation selected a Korean consortium in 2013 to build four APR-1400 reactors. Photo: Enec

Kristine Svinicki, head of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, toured the Barakah site in November 2013. Photo: Enec

By August 2014, more than 55 per cent of construction at Unit 1 had been completed. Photo: Enec

The first nuclear reactor at Barakah in 2016. Christopher Pike / The National

The UAE's nuclear energy programme is based in Barakah in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. Photo: Enec

Trainees learn to deal with potentially catastrophic scenarios at this simulator in Barakah. Christopher Pike / The National

Khalid Naqbi was part of the first batch of resident inspectors sent to the construction site by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation. Ravindranath K / The National

A second unit at Barakah Nuclear Power plant has begun commercial operations, the country's nuclear regulator said.

In an online briefing, Christer Viktorsson, director general of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), said the second reactor was now producing energy for commercial purposes.

He further said review of the requirements needed for the third unit's operating licence has begun.

Mr Viktorsson said FANR conducted more than 40 inspections covering nuclear safety, nuclear security and non-proliferation at Barakah in 2021 to ensure that it meets regulatory requirements.

The second unit was connected to the national power grid in September 2021.

Barakah will provide 25 per cent of the country's energy needs once all four units are running.

The production of clean nuclear energy will reduce reliance on fossil fuels and gas-fired power stations, which currently provide the UAE with more than 90 per cent of its energy.

'Sustainable powerhouse'

Speaking last month, Mohamed Al Hammadi, managing director and chief executive of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation said the plant is a "sustainable powerhouse... spearheading the nation’s commitment to tackling climate change".

"Since the start of commercial operations in 2021, unit one has been the largest single electricity generator in the Arab world, completely carbon emissions free," he said at Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.

Barakah's production of nuclear energy for homes and businesses means 22.4 million fewer tonnes of carbon are released into the environment. That is the equivalent to the carbon generated by 4.8 million passenger cars driven for one year. There about 3.5 million cars on the UAE’s roads today.

Data from the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) shows carbon emissions are expected to decrease by 50 per cent in 2025, when Barakah is fully operational, as well as the launch of additional large scale solar power generation and efficient water desalination, state news agency Wam said in January.

The Barakah Plant is one of the largest nuclear energy plants in the world, with four APR-1400 units. Construction of the Plant began in 2012.

Barakah plant emergency drill: in pictures

Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region, witnessed the start of the ConvEx-3 Barakah UAE exercise at Barakah nuclear plant. @HamdanBinZayed

ConvEx-3 exercises are designed to test response capabilities and early notification protocols in cases of nuclear or radiological emergencies, in line with international emergency conventions.. @HamdanBinZayed

Hamad Saif Al Kaabi, director of the hazardous material incidents department at Ncema, said ConvEx-3 'Barakah UAE' is an opportunity to demonstrate the preparedness and capabilities of the emergency and crisis system of the UAE's nuclear sector.

Preparations for the exercise started last month, with robust rehearsals and drills simulating nuclear emergency scenarios carried out over the course of 36 hours.