The Region’s first nuclear power plant is set to begin operations soon, with UAE’s nuclear regulatory authority granting the operating license for Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant.

This decision by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) – the UAE’s independent nuclear regulator – makes UAE the first country in the Arab region to operate a nuclear power plant.

“Today’s announcement is another milestone for the UAE, culminating efforts of 12 years towards the development of the UAE Nuclear Energy Programme to which FANR played a significant role to turn this vision into reality,” said Ambassador Hamad Al Kaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, and Deputy Chairman of the FANR.

FANR issued the license to Nawah Energy Company for the operating and maintenance unit of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp (ENEC), enabling it to commence operations of unit 1 of the Barakha Nuclear Energy Plant, according to a statement from ENEC here today.

Image credit: ENEC website

The plant, which was earlier scheduled to be operational by 2017 but this was stalled by delays in licensing issues. South Korea’s KEPCO had won the $40 billion deal to construct the UAE nuclear reactors in 2009.

The Unit 1 of the nuclear power plant located in Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi will be operated under a 60-year licence and once all four reactors are functional, the plant will be able to supply up to 25 per cent (5,600 MW) of the country’s electricity needs, which at present, are met by natural gas production.