The UAE’s nuclear regulator has issued a licence to switch on Barakah’s second reactor.
Officials announced the decision on Tuesday, after the first reactor was connected to the power grid in August 2020.
Unit 1 reached 100 per cent power in December.
Now the plant’s operators have permission to switch on the second of four units, when ready.
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) regulates the nuclear plant at Barakah, which is run by Nawah, a subsidiary of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC).
Once Barakah’s four reactors are online, the plant will deliver reliable electricity for decades, providing about a quarter of the country’s electricity.
ENEC previously said the subsequent reduction in fossil fuel use would cut 21 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. That’s about the same as taking 3.2 million cars off the roads each year.
The UAE generates about 98 per cent of its domestic power from gas-fired stations, which is expected to steadily reduce as Barakah begins to generate power for commercial use.
Barakah nuclear plant progress – in pictures
Some of the Emirati staff behind the nuclear project, which has been more than a decade in the making. All photos courtesy Fanr
The UAE’s nuclear regulator issued an operating licence for the first reactor at Barakah in February 2020
Delivering the project has been a feat of engineering. As many as 18,000 people worked on the project at the height of construction.
Fifty-three Emiratis have recently been certified as senior reactor operators and many more will be needed in coming years
There is growing interest among new Emirati graduates to enter the nuclear training programmes
Nuclear plays a significant part in targets to reduce gas-fired power generation to 38 per cent by 2050, along with renewable energy from solar and some clean coal.
“The nuclear programme has huge upfront costs to provide a certain level of security,” Hamad Al Kaabi said. “But once you make that investment in the construction of the plant, the operation and fuel cost is very minimal compared to the overall cost.
Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed previously said Barakah is a “new chapter in our journey for the development of peaceful nuclear energy”
“As we prepare for the next 50 years to safeguard our needs, our biggest strength is national talent,” Sheikh Mohamed said.
The four huge reactors at Barakah
Hamad Al Kaabi, the UAE’s permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, and Christer Viktorsson, director general of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, speak about the first reactor to be licensed in February. Khushnum Bhandari for The National
Updated: March 9, 2021 11:57 AM
