Name of the Project
Barakah nuclear power plant (NPP).
Location
The western region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, on the Arabian Gulf, in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Project Owner/s
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC).
Project Description
The project involves the construction of the UAE’s first nuclear energy plant comprising four APR1400 nuclear reactors.
The APR1400 is a pressurised water reactor and every unit produces up to 1 400 MW of electricity. The reactors have an operational life span of 60 years.
When fully operational, the four units of the plant will produce 5.6 GW of electricity while preventing the release of more than 21-million tons of carbon emissions every year.
Potential Job Creation
ENEC’s workforce of more than 1 700 employees will increase to about 2 500 to operate and maintain the plant.
Capital Expenditure
The project is valued at about $20-billion.
Planned Start/End Date
Construction began on Unit 1 in July 2012, with grid connection achieved in August 2020 and full power in December 2020. In April 2021, Barakah Unit 1 was declared commercially operational.
Construction on Unit 2 started in May 2013 and was completed in July 2020; commercial operations started in March 2022.
Construction of Unit 3 started in September 2014; commercial operations started in early 2023.
Construction on Unit 4 started in September 2015.
Latest Developments
The project’s operations team has started the final operational readiness testing required before the fourth and final unit can receive an operating licence from the UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR).
Each of Barakah's four units requires a separate operating licence from the FANR before it can be commissioned and operated.
Barakah's operator, Nawah – a joint nuclear operations and maintenance subsidiary of ENEC and the Korea Electric Power Corporation – submitted its application to operate and maintain units 3 and 4 in March 2017.
The three commercially operating units, delivered in three consecutive years, are already generating more than 30TWh of zero-emission electricity all year round.
Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Korean Electric Power Corporation (design, build and operate four 1 400 MW nuclear power reactors).
Contact Details for Project Information
ENEC, tel +971 2 659 5555 or email info@enec.gov.ae.