Name of the Project
Barakah nuclear power plant (NPP).

Location
In 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.

Construction of Unit 3 started in September 2014 and Unit 4 in September 2015.

Latest Developments
Unit 2 at the Barakah NPP has started supplying electricity to the country's power grid, five months after Unit 1 of the plant entered commercial operation.

The connection of Unit 2 to the grid follows the successful completion of numerous safety tests conducted after the startup of the plant, and with the continued oversight of the UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR).

Nuclear operators will now gradually raise the power levels of Unit 2, known as power ascension testing. ENEC has said that, throughout this process, the Unit 2 systems follow international best practice to safely progress and test the unit as it proceeds towards full electricity production. This testing will be conducted under the continued oversight of FANR.

Units 3 and 4 are in the final stages of commissioning at 95% and 91% completion respectively. The construction of the entire plant is now more than 96% complete.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Korean Electric Power Corporation (design, build and operate four 1 400 MW nuclear power plants).

Contact Details for Project Information
ENEC, tel +971 2 659 5555 or email info@enec.gov.ae.