The first Arab nuclear power plant started up | The plant …

The first nuclear power plant in the Arab world commercializes its first megawatt Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates announced. “The first megawatt of the first Arab nuclear power plant has entered the national electricity grid,” the vice president and prime minister of the Federation said on Twitter, Mohamed bin Rashid Al Maktum.

In turn, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi and de facto ruler of the country, Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahayan “The start of commercial operations at the Barakah plant (…) is a historic step for the Emirates, which strengthens the sustainability of our entire electricity sector,” tweeted the prince.

The United Arab Emirates is made up of seven emirates, including the capital Abu Dhabi and the Free Dubai. The fourth largest producer in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), the UAE has grown since the 1970s thanks to its oil and gas wealth, but spends billions to develop sufficiently renewable energy to meet half of your needs by 2050. But in recent years, it has tried, through investments of several million dollars, to diversify its energy matrix.

The plant began operating in August when authorities pressed the button on the first of the four reactors. Barakah, which means “blessing” in Arabic, is a first in Arabic. Barakah, on the Gulf Coast west of Abu Dhabi, was built by a consortium led by Korea Electric Power Corporation at a cost of about $ 24.4 billion.

The start of the commercial operation follows a period of in-depth tests, supervised by the Federal Nuclear Regulatory Authority, What have you done 312 independent inspections from the factory to date. These reviews were conducted in conjunction with over 42 evaluations and reviews in pairs by the International Atomic Energy Agency and World Association of Nuclear Operators.

“After more than a decade of strategic planning, program development and construction, today we confidently usher in a new chapter in the UAE’s transition to cleaner energy sources,” he said. . Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Executive Director of ENEC, the UAE’s nuclear agency.

The Barakah nuclear power plant, which is being built by a consortium led by Korea Electric Power Corporation, consists of four units. Construction of the plant began in 2012. Unit 2 has already completed the refueling process and is working on all required processes ahead of commissioning, which is slated for later this year. Construction of units 3 and 4 is 94 and 89 percent complete, respectively.

Barakah One Company, an ENEC subsidiary in charge of the financial and commercial activities of the Barakah project, has signed a power purchase agreement with Emirates Water and Electricity Company in 2016 for purchase all electricity produced at the plant for the next 60 years.

According to the specialized site World Nuclear News, the opening of the UAE’s new nuclear power plant was welcomed by industry representatives. “The UAE’s commitment to a clean energy future that at the same time ensures the sustainable socio-economic development of all the people of the country, must be replicated by many other countries around the world. Nuclear energy will have to be present. central to this energy transformation if we are to have the opportunity to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2050. “He said Sama Bilbao and Leon, general manager of the World Nuclear Association.

Across the gulf Iran operates a nuclear power plant built by Russia in Bushehr on its south coast. Saudi Arabia, the world’s largest oil exporter, has announced plans to build up to 16 nuclear reactors, but the plan has yet to materialize.