Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 successfully connected to the Emirates grid
The United Arab Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) announced on Wednesday that the connection between Unit 1 of the Barakah Power Plant in Abu Dhabi and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) grid has been a success and is already sending its first megawatts of clean electricity.
"The safe and successful connection of Unit 1 to the UAE grid marks a key moment when we begin to fulfill our mission of driving the nation's growth by providing clean electricity around the clock," said Mohammed Ibrahim al-Hammadi, ENEC's executive director, according to the state news agency WAM.
The operation has been carried out in partnership with the Abu Dhabi Transmission and Shipping Company (TRANSCO), a subsidiary group of the Abu Dhabi National Power Company.
Four nuclear reactors at Barakah are being built by ENEC. Work began in 2013 and when completed will produce some 5.6 GW of electricity, generating up to 25 per cent of UAE's electricity demand.
"We are confident that our people and technology will continue to move forward to achieve commercial operations and completion of the remaining three units, with the aim of powering up to 25 per cent of UAE's electricity needs for at least the next 60 years," said Al-Hammadi.
The UAE, which will celebrate its 50th anniversary next year, is seeking to diversify its energy sources and minimize its dependence on oil and gas. This clean energy policy is based on the Emirates' Pacific Nuclear Energy Programme, with the Barakah plant as its flagship.
Earlier this month, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and ruler of Dubai, welcomed the national success in operating the first peaceful nuclear energy reactor in the Arab world: "The teams managed to load a nuclear fuel package, conduct extensive testing and successfully complete the operation.
Recently, ENEC announced the completion of the construction of the Unit, with operational preparations now underway by Nawah. Construction of Units 3 and 4 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant is in its final stages, with Unit 3 at 93% completion and Unit 4 at 86%.
