UAE ACHIEVES FIRST FOR ARAB WORLD AT BARAKAH

▶ Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed announces beginning of commercial nuclear power generation

Commercial power generation at Barakah Nuclear Power Plant has begun.

The achievement made the UAE the first Arab country to operate a nuclear energy plant, as it strengthens its commitment to clean energy.

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, made the announcement yesterday.

“The start of commercial operations at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is a historic milestone for the UAE that significantly enhances the sustainability of our entire power sector,” he said.

“We are grateful to those who made this possible and thank them for their diligence and hard work.”

The moment was the culmination of a journey of more than a decade on the path to nuclear power.

Unit 1 at Barakah became fully operational in December and is now capable of generating 1,400 megawatts of electricity for the nation’s power grid.

Four reactors will eventually come online, delivering clean, efficient and reliable electricity for decades.

The plant will provide about a quarter of the country’s electricity and eliminate up to 21 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually.

Mohamed Al Hammadi, chief executive of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, said the development marked a new chapter in the UAE’s transition to cleaner energy.

“The Barakah plant uses a proven technology for significantly reducing carbon emissions to tackle climate change, one of the biggest challenges the world has ever faced,” Mr Al Hammadi said.

“Our talented team of UAE nationals and international experts has worked tirelessly with the support of our leadership and international partners to reach this pivotal milestone in the UAE programme’s history.”

The construction of the Barakah plant as a whole is now more than 95 per cent complete.