UAE close to completing construction of first nuclear power plant

UAE close to completing construction of first nuclear power plant
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation says first of four units is now 96% finished

By Staff writer

Fri 01 Dec 2017 01:16 AM

The construction of the first nuclear power plant at Barakah is almost complete, according to the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC).

In a progress report cited by the state news agency WAM, ENEC confirmed that the first of four units being built is now 96 percent finished and plans are at "full tilt" for its operational readiness.

The report said the Barakah project west of Abu Dhabi has already had a significant impact on the growth and prosperity of the UAE, with contracts valued at more than AED13 billion awarded to local companies.

ENEC and its joint venture partner and prime contractor, KEPCO, said testing and commissioning activities are progressing steadily on units 1 and 2.

Construction, which began in 2012, is now more than 84 percent complete across all four units. Once the four reactors are online in 2020, the facility will deliver up to a quarter of the UAE’s electricity needs, and save up to 21 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

In May, ENEC delayed the start-up of its first nuclear reactor until next year for further safety checks because regulators have not yet granted an operating licence.

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