UAE nuclear plant's final reactor is ready

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has announced the completion of the Barakah nuclear energy plant's Unit 4.

It said that the process of loading fuel assemblies into the reactor has been completed, in line with all national regulations and the highest international standards.

This milestone takes the UAE one step closer to full fleet operations at Barakah, the largest single source of clean electricity in the region.

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) recently issued the operating licence for Unit 4 to Nawah Energy Company, which is ENEC's operating and maintenance subsidiary. 

Once operational, Unit 4, the final unit of Barakah, will enable the plant to generate 25 per cent of the UAE's electricity needs for the next sixty years.

The three current commercially operating reactors at Barakah are already generating more than 30TWh of zero-emission electricity every year.

Unit 4 will raise the plant's total clean electricity generation capacity to 5.6GW, delivering more than 40TWh of electricity per year, once commercial operations begin.

The operations team will safely progress through a comprehensive testing programme prior to completing the start-up of Unit 4. Testing is undertaken under the continued oversight of FANR.

Once Unit 4 is connected to the national electricity grid, the operations team will continue to gradually raise power levels, known as Power Ascension Testing (PAT).

This phase will be continuously monitored and tested until maximum electricity production is reached, while adhering to all regulatory requirements and the highest international standards of safety, quality and security.