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UAE’s Barakah NPP fully operational
Above: The fourth unit of the UAE’s Barakah nuclear power plant has now begun commercial operations
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) announced a historic milestone for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the fourth unit of the Barakah NPP entering commercial operations, marking its full delivery. The Barakah Plant is now generating 40 TWh of electricity a year and provides up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity. “This represents the largest decarbonisation effort in the UAE and the region, positioning the country ahead of its 2030 climate commitments,” ENEC said. Barakah is the first multi-unit operational NPP in the Arab world. Construction began in 2011. Korea Electric Power Company (Kepco) led the consortium that built the plant comprising four APR1400 reactors. Unit 1 was connected to the grid in 2020, followed by unit 2 in 2021 and unit 3 in 2022. Unit 1 began commercial operation in April 2021 and unit 2 in 2022 and unit 3 in 2023. Despite growing demand, consumption of
natural gas for power generation is at a 13-year low in Abu Dhabi because of the significant contribution that Barakah is now making to Abu Dhabi’s energy mix. ENEC says the construction of Barakah has
stimulated the creation of a new advanced industry in the UAE, boosting national studies in nuclear sciences and offering educational and training opportunities. To date, over 2,000 Emiratis have participated in developing the plant. During the construction phase alone, Barakah yielded $6.7bn in local procurement, making the programme a major driver of In- Country Value. Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of
ENEC’s Board of Directors, said: “This source of clean electricity will act as a magnet, attracting additional investment in the UAE by sustainably-minded, but energy intensive industries from around the globe.” Nasser Al Nasseri, CEO of Barakah One
Company, ENEC’s joint venture subsidiary which oversees the financial and commercial interests of the Barakah Plant, said: “The certainty of power output and the inherent low volatility of pricing afforded by the Barakah plant offers
a strong foundation upon which to build and grow, both for the UAE power sector and for consumers, highlighting one of the key benefits of modern nuclear energy plants.” Ali Al Hammadi, CEO of Nawah Energy
Company, ENEC’s subsidiary and Barakah Plant operator said: “We are committed to ensuring that safety and compliance with the UAE’s strict regulations and high standards remains our top priority, with Nawah fully focused on safe and reliable operations and maintenance in pursuit of operational excellence. Barakah and our teams have undergone over 496 inspections from the UAE’s independent regulator, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), over 84 World Association for Nuclear Operators (WANO) reviews and 15 missions from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), demonstrating our commitment to the highest standards.” ENEC Managing Director and CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi said the UAE has added more clean electricity per capita in the past five years than any other nation, with 75% of this coming from Barakah. “This clearly demonstrates that integrating nuclear energy into the UAE power’s mix and alongside growing renewable energy sources was the right decision, boosting energy security and establishing the UAE as a regional leader in this growing sector,” he said. He added: “The Barakah nuclear energy plant offers a new model for the world and demonstrates that nuclear energy is bankable and can be delivered efficiently, with our units coming online within eight years from first concrete pour to fuel load and achieving a 40% improvement in schedule from start of operational readiness to commercial operations for unit 4 compared to unit 1”. He concluded: “With this expertise, we are now well-positioned to advance to the next era of growth and fulfil the broader mission of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme. ENEC is poised to partner, develop, invest in and advocate for more new nuclear projects in the UAE and overseas.” ■
round up
NEW BUILD SOUTH KOREA’S NUCLEAR Safety & Security Commission (NSSC) has approved a construction permit for units 3&4 of the Shin Hanul NPP in Uljin County, North Gyeongsang Province. Shin Hanul 3 and 4 are 1,400 MWe Advanced Power Reactor (APR1400) units similar to the currently operating Saeul 1&2 and Shin-Hanul 1&2.
TWO HYDRAULIC TANKS of the emergency core cooling system (ECCS) have been installed at unit 2 of the Akkuyu NPP under construction by Rosatom in Türkiye. The installation was carried out through the open top of the reactor building using a heavy crawler crane. Meanwhile, builders have also completed concreting the foundation of the turbine set for unit 3.
BRAZILIAN NUCLEAR UTILITY Eletronuclear has received the results of a study on unit 3 of the Angra NPP prepared by the National Bank for Economic & Social Development (BNDES). The study concluded that the overall cost of abandoning Angra 3 was almost the same as the cost to finalise the construction. The plant is expected to enter commercial operation in 2031.
PLANT OPERATION CLEANING AND MAINTENANCE operations has begun at the two evaporative cooling towers which serve unit 5 of Russia’s Leningrad NPP. Unit 5 (also known as unit 1 of Leningrad-II NPP) was closed for a planned repair and maintenance outage in August. Water removed from cooling towers is checked to ensure the absence of radioactive substances. At the next stage, specialists will check the pipelines supplying water.
JAPAN’S ONLY EXPERIMENTAL fast reactor, Joyo, in Oarai Town, Ibaraki Prefecture, has secured consent from local governments to begin the safety construction work necessary before it can restart. Joyo’s operator, the Japan Atomic Energy Agency, is aiming to restart the reactor in the second half of fiscal 2026 after completing safety construction work, including measures related to cooling and countering accidents.
DIGITAL & SOFTWARE WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC COMPANY has launched its Hive nuclear-specific Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) System to deliver custom solutions for its customer base. Westinghouse claims that the system will “drive improved cost and schedule through the entire reactor lifecycle from design, licensing, manufacturing, construction and operations”.
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