UAE and South Korea celebrate completion of Barakah's first nuclear reactor

The Arab world's first nuclear power plant is a joint project between the two countries

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea, shake hands as they celebrate the completion of Barakah's first nuclear reactor. Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed , Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, third left, and Moon Jae-in, President of South Korea, second left, attend the Unit One Construction Completion Celebration, at Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. Seen with Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, left, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohamed, Ruler's Representative in Al Ain Region, fourth left, and Lt Gen Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, right. Rashed Al Mansoori / Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

From right, Sheikh Saif, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Mohammed, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Mr Moon, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed and HH Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed. Photo: Abdullah Al Junaibi

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation employees celebrate the completion of Barakah's first nuclear reactor. Abdullah Al Junaibi

The nuclear energy plant is three hours and nearly 300 kilometres west from the centre of Abu Dhabi. Hamad Al Mansoori for The Crown Prince Court - Abu Dhabi

In December 2009, Enec awarded the contract for the Middle East’s first nuclear power plant to a consortium of South Korean companies headed by the Korean Electric Power Company (Kepco), said to be worth US$20 billion.

South Korea’s expertise was essential to the project’s success – its APR-1400 reactor, of which Barakah will have four, is arguably the most advanced in the world, with a design life of 60 years.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed with Mr Moon and Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed. Abdullah Al Junaibi

Abduallah Al Nuami, UAE Ambassador to South Korea, right, with Awaidha Murshed Al Murar, Chairman of the Department of Energy and Abu Dhabi Executive Council Member, second right, and Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister for Climate Change and Environment third right. Photo: Abdullah Al Junaibi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed later took to Twitter to thank the president for his country's cooperation in the project and said their work together showed a "model relationship". Abdullah Al Junaibi

Jieun Jeung, an Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation employee, delivers a speech during the ceremony. Abdullah Al Junaibi

Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed and Moon Jae-in, President of Korea, today attended a celebration to mark the completion of the UAE's first nuclear reactor with a visit to the Barakah power plant.

The plant is the first in the Arab world, and is part of the UAE's effort to curb its reliance on fossil fuels and to adopt cleaner sources of energy.

Sheikh Mohammed, the Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, took to Twitter to thank the president for his country's cooperation in the project and said their work together showed a "model relationship".

Unit 1 of the Barakah complex will begin loading fuel in May, according to a statement from the Ministry that was emailed to Bloomberg, although it is not yet clear when it will start generating power.

In December 2009, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation awarded the contract for the Middle East's first nuclear power plant to a consortium of South Korean companies headed by the Korean Electric Power Company, said to be worth US$20 billion.

South Korea’s expertise was essential to the project’s success – its APR-1400 reactor is arguably the most advanced in the world, with a design life of 60 years.

Unit 1 is the first of four such reactors that are planned for operation by 2021, Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei said in September.

It is estimated that, when completed, the plants will produce a combined 5,600 megawatts of power, contributing almost 25 per cent of the nation's electricity.
The nuclear energy plant is situated three hours and nearly 300 kilometres west from the centre of Abu Dhabi.

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