The United Arab Emirates has reached a major milestone in its Peaceful Nuclear Power Program with the commercial operation of Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. According to the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), this achievement comes less than a year after the commissioning of Unit 2 of the plant. Nawah Energy Company, the operation and maintenance subsidiary of the Barakah plant, is now in charge of the commercial operations of Unit 3.
An additional 1,400 megawatts of power
With the addition of Unit 3, the Barakah plant provides up to 4,200 megawatts of clean, reliable 24-hour power generation to the grid. The peaceful nuclear power program is in line with the country’s goals of reducing carbon emissions and achieving a net zero carbon footprint by 2050. Unit 3 was brought into commercial operation faster than the first two units, with a reduction of four months for Unit 2 and more than five months for Unit 1, thanks to the experience gained by the operational teams at the Barakah plant.
An example for global energy diversification
ENEC’s Managing Director and CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi said, “Barakah is a successful example for other countries seeking to diversify their energy portfolios during a time of global energy crises. With three units in commercial operation, we are providing energy security, stimulating sustainable economic growth, encouraging innovation and helping to achieve our strategy of a net zero carbon footprint by 2050.” He also stressed the importance of nuclear energy in the fight against climate change, which will be presented at the COP28 in November 2023 in the United Arab Emirates.
Strict safety standards
The Federal Nuclear Regulatory Authority (FANR) has confirmed that Nawah has met all regulatory requirements for the start of commercial operation. “The commercial operation of Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant is another great achievement that is the result of significant efforts over the past years since the establishment of the UAE Nuclear Power Program,” said FANR Director General Christer Viktorsson.
FANR will continue to inspect the oversight activities of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant during the operational phase to ensure that all requirements are met.
