Unit 1 of the UAE’s Barakah plant – the Arab world’s first nuclear power plant – is connected to the national power grid, in a historic moment, enabling it to supply clean electricity to millions of inhabitants and help the country’s confidence reduce oil-rich fossil fuels.
“This is a major milestone. We have plans for this over the last 12 years,” Mohamed Al Hammadi, CEO of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), told CNBC’s Dan Murphy in an exclusive interview ahead of the news.
Unit 1 is the first of what will eventually be four reactors, which when fully operational are expected to supply 25% of the UAE’s electricity and reduce its carbon emissions by 21 million tonnes per year, according to ENEC. That is roughly equivalent to the carbon emissions of 3.2 million cars annually.
The Gulf country of nearly 10 million is the newest member of a group of now 31 countries carrying out nuclear operations. It is also the first new country to start a nuclear power plant in three decades, the last being China in 1990.
“The UAE has grown from an electricity demand point of view,” Al Hammadi said. “That’s why we try to meet the demand (and) have at the same time with less carbon emissions.”
The UAE’s electricity mix will continue to include gas and renewable energy, with “the baseload from nuclear”, added the CEO, whom he described as a “safe, clean and reliable source of electricity” for the country.
The project also provides “highly compensated jobs” for the Emiratis and will introduce new sectors to the country’s economy, Al Hammadi said. “I’m also very proud. Today we have awarded about 2,000 contracts (worth) 14.5 billion dirhams ($ 3.95 billion) to local businesses, but this is just the beginning.”
International cooperation
The UAE’s nuclear watchdog FANR, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, granted the operating license for Unit 1 in February, following an extensive inspection process to ensure that the plant meets regulatory requirements. The permit is expected to last 60 years. The program also includes collaborations with external bodies including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Government of South Korea, and its initial launch assessment was completed in January by the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO). The WANO and the IAEA have conducted more than 40 inspection and assessment missions at Barakah.
But the project has its critics, especially some experts from the independent Nuclear Consulting Group non-profit, who have expressed concerns about the safety features of Barakah and potential environmental risks.
In response, ENEC said that “adherence to the highest standards of safety, quality and safety is deeply embedded in the fabric of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program.”
“The Barakah Plant complies with all national and international regulatory requirements and standards for nuclear safety,” the company said in a statement. It added that the reactor design was certified by the Korea Institute for Nuclear Safety, FANR and the US-based Nuclear Regulatory Commission, “demonstrated the robustness of this design for safety and operational reliability.”
Concerns about regional proliferation
The performance for the UAE is particularly significant given tensions in the broader region over nuclear proliferation.
Some observers have warned of a regional arms race, although the UAE already shares what energy experts call the “golden standard” of civil nuclear cooperation: The US-UAE 123 agreement for Peaceful Civilian Nuclear Energy Cooperation It allows the UAE nuclear receive materials, equipment and know-how from the US while preventing the development of dual-use technology by stopping uranium enrichment and fuel processing, the processes required to build a bomb.
In contrast, Iran has in the near future stopped complying with the 2015 multilateral deal that governs its development of nuclear energy and is very much afraid of its approach to making bombs. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia has expressed its desire to develop a nuclear energy program without adhering to a 123 agreement.
And most recently, in the wake of a historic deal that saw the UAE become the first Gulf state to normalize relations with Israel, Iran responded by warning that the agreement would bring a “dangerous future” to the Emirati government. .
But ENEC and UAE officials stress the commitment of the program to security, transparency and international cooperation, and the need to meet growing demand for electricity through cleaner means.
“The nuclear industry is growing … and the UEA is no exception. We follow our demand for electricity to meet it in a safe, secure and stable way, and we do it in an environmentally friendly way,” Al Hammadi said.
“Having four reactors that will supply 25% of electricity to the nation and prevent us from emitting 21 million tonnes of CO2 on an annual basis is a very serious step to take – and the UAE is not talking about it, it is doing it. , and we’re taking advantage of it if we talk right now. “
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