The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation announced today, Thursday, a historic achievement for the UAE with the commercial operation of the fourth unit of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, making this the first time that the four stations are fully operational.
The Barakah nuclear power plant project is one of the most successful new nuclear energy projects in the past thirty years. It is a global model in nuclear project management and a reference for all countries seeking to develop peaceful nuclear energy projects. The Barakah nuclear power plant project confirms the UAE’s commitment to the highest standards of safety, security and transparency.
The four Barakah plants now produce 40 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, and up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs without carbon emissions, which is enough for the needs of 16 million electric cars. Thus, the plants have become the largest contributor to reducing the carbon footprint in the country and the region, as the Barakah plants reduce 22.4 million tons of carbon emissions each year, which is equivalent to removing 4.6 million cars from the roads annually.
The Barakah plants also provide significant and multiple economic returns, as natural gas consumption for energy production in Abu Dhabi has fallen to its lowest level in 13 years, despite increasing demand, due to the significant contribution of the Barakah plants to the energy mix1 in Abu Dhabi.
The Barakah plants play a key role in helping UAE companies reduce their carbon footprint, particularly as 85% of the electricity in the Emirates Water and Electricity Company’s Clean Energy Certificates programme is generated by the Barakah plants, which companies such as ADNOC, Emirates Global Aluminium and Emirates Steel Arkan use to produce environmentally friendly products that can be sold at competitive prices to Abu Dhabi-based companies.
The Barakah stations have contributed to the development of an advanced and new sector in the UAE, and the promotion of local studies in nuclear sciences, in addition to providing educational and training opportunities for Emirati youth. More than 2,000 Emirati competencies have participated in developing the stations so far, in addition to awarding contracts to local companies with a value exceeding 22.5 billion dirhams, which contributed to enhancing local added value.
-Thoughtful approach
On this occasion, His Excellency Khaldoon Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, said: “In 2008, the wise leadership took a thoughtful approach by issuing a comprehensive policy for the development of peaceful nuclear energy in the UAE to enhance its efforts in transitioning to clean energy sources. Now with the commercial operation of Unit 4 at Barakah, this vision has been realized, as the four Barakah units produce 25% of the country’s electricity needs, which enhances the country’s leading position in the development of peaceful nuclear energy worldwide. Nuclear energy is one of the sectors that attract global industries that require huge amounts of electricity.”
“We are proud of this great achievement for the UAE, and we appreciate the continued support of the wise leadership that has enabled us to develop a new source of clean energy in the country, which has added more per capita clean electricity in the past five years than any other country in the world. 75% of this electricity was generated from the Barakah 2 plants, which confirms that adding nuclear energy to the country’s energy mix alongside renewable sources was a strategic decision that enhances energy security and consolidates the country’s regional leadership role in this growing sector,” said His Excellency Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation.
Al Hammadi added: “The Barakah plants have become a new global model, confirming that nuclear energy is economically viable and can be developed efficiently, as the commercial operation phase of the Barakah plants began within eight years from the beginning of pouring concrete to loading fuel, with the timeline for the fourth plant being accelerated compared to the first from the start of operational readiness to commercial operation by 40%.”
“I would like to thank the team who worked tirelessly to develop the nuclear knowledge that enabled us to achieve this accomplishment. With the expertise we now have, the Corporation is now in a position to move forward towards the next phase of growth to achieve the goals of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, including establishing companies and developing and investing in more new nuclear energy projects locally and abroad, which represents a qualitative leap for the nuclear energy sector in the country,” he added.
-Reliable production
“Today, Barakah One produces a quarter of the UAE’s electricity needs reliably and efficiently, providing a stable supply of energy for 60 years and minimising price volatility. This provides an important platform for UAE energy producers to build their future plans, highlighting one of the key benefits of modern nuclear power plants. Combined with one of the highest rates of return on investment in energy among other energy sources, Barakah One ensures significant returns for future generations,” said Nasser Al Nasseri, CEO of Barakah One Company, the subsidiary of ENEC that oversees the financial and commercial affairs of the Barakah plants.
-A global model
“The joining of Unit 4 at Barakah to the other three units is a historic achievement that will provide clean and reliable electricity to the UAE,” said Ali Al Hammadi, CEO of Nawah Energy Company, the subsidiary of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), responsible for the safe operation and maintenance of the Barakah plant. “We are committed to continuing to adhere to regulations and standards as a top priority, with a complete focus on reliable and safe operation and maintenance in pursuit of operational excellence.”
“The Barakah plants and their teams have undergone 496 inspections by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, 84 reviews by the World Association of Nuclear Operators, and 15 missions by the International Atomic Energy Agency, demonstrating our commitment to the highest standards and operational excellence, in accordance with local regulations and international safety standards. The Barakah plants have become a global model in the energy sector, and I commend everyone who contributed to this journey,” he added.
The completion of the commercial operation of the four Barakah plants comes amid growing global awareness of the pivotal role of nuclear energy in reducing the carbon footprint of energy systems and achieving climate neutrality, especially since the International Energy Agency expects global demand for electricity to rise at a faster rate over the next three years, by up to 3.4% annually until 2026.
This announcement strengthens the position of ENEC and the UAE in the efforts to triple nuclear energy, which will be necessary to meet the increasing demand for clean electricity resulting from the continued growth of artificial intelligence and the data center infrastructure required for AI, in addition to semiconductor facilities.
Follow our latest local and sports news, and the latest political and economic developments via Google News