The UAE’s nuclear regulator has issued a 60-year operating licence for the fourth unit of Abu Dhabi’s Barakah nuclear power plant facility.

This was announced on 17 November by Hamad al-Kaabi, the UAE permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and deputy chairman of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR).

MEED reported in June this year that the fourth unit of the Barakah nuclear power plant was undergoing pre-operational assessments in preparation for receiving its operating licence and the start of fuel load. 

Boosting capacity

Once commercially operational, unit 4 will raise the Barakah plant’s total clean electricity generation capacity to 5,600MW, equivalent to 25 per cent of the UAE’s electricity needs.

Each of the plant's four nuclear reactors can generate 1,400MW of electricity. Once complete, the plant is expected to deliver more than 40 terawatt hours (TWh) of electricity a year.

The plant’s first three units are now operational, with the third reactor reaching commercial operation earlier this year. FANR has issued a 60-year operating licence for each unit.  

The second unit started commercial operations and was linked to the UAE grid in March last year.

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) was established in 2009 to build and operate the nuclear power plant. An Enec subsidiary, Nawah Company, operates the plant. Construction started in 2010.

Nuclear pivot

In January, it was reported that Abu Dhabi plans to invest up to $30bn in South Korea’s nuclear power, defence, hydrogen and solar energy industries.

This was followed by the signing of a nuclear cooperation deal between the two countries’ main nuclear companies, Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP) and Enec.

Other areas of cooperation include future technology development and joint research, such as small modular and micro-reactors.

Korea’s Nuclear Safety & Security Commission (NSSC) also signed an administrative agreement with FANR that will lead to a simplified nuclear export permit procedure between the two countries.

This development confirmed some analysts’ expectations that the $100bn US-UAE Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (Pace) announced in November 2022 will primarily support the UAE’s nuclear energy pivot.

Korea Power Corporation (Kepco) is the prime contractor for the Barakah nuclear power plant.