Barakah nuclear plant completes safety tests at Unit 1

Saturday, Jul 02, 2016

Abu Dhabi

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) on Saturday announced it has completed important tests at Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, marking another achievement in the testing and commissioning phase of the plant.

The Structural Integrity Test and Integrated Leak Rate Test were performed over several weeks on Unit 1 at Barakah, with the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) overseeing the tests.

Both tests demonstrate the robustness of the structure in terms its ability to perform safely under normal and extraordinary circumstances.

“The commissioning phase of a nuclear energy plant is a critical step towards the first fuel load. Before loading the fuel it is essential that the plant is tested under the highest standards of safety, security, and quality. With the completion of these tests on Unit 1, we are moving closer to achieving our goal of supplying up to a quarter of our nation’s electricity needs with low-carbon, sustainable nuclear energy,” said Mohammad Al Hammadi, chief executive officer of Enec.

He added that the Barakah Plant is set to support the UAE’s energy mix strategy and the country’s economic growth plans.

The results of both tests show that the Reactor Containment Building can perform its primary function — to contain radiation and prevent any radioactive release — under normal conditions as well as emergencies.

Enec’s teams worked closely with Korea Electric Power Corporation and FANR, throughout the complex testing process. The testing is part of the commissioning phase, and has been progressing with the highest standards of safety and quality assurance.

Other recent commissioning milestones completed safely and successfully on Unit 1 include Reactor Systems Flushing, Turbine Lube Oil Flushing, and Cold Hydrostatic Testing (CHT), which verified that the reactor coolant system and other associated systems met FANR’s regulations.

The project at Barakah is progressing steadily, with Unit 1 now 88 per cent complete, Unit 2, 72 per cent complete, Unit 3, 50 per cent complete, and Unit 4, 31 per cent complete.

When the four reactors are completed, the UAE’s nuclear energy programme will provide approximately 25 per cent of the UAE’s electricity needs and save up to 12 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.

Established in December 2009, Enec specialises in deployment, ownership and operation of nuclear energy plants within the UAE.

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The nuclear plant will provide 25 per cent of UAE’s electricity

The project, with a total value of $20 billion (Dh73.4 billion), was fully funded by the Abu Dhabi government, and is set to provide 5,600 megawatts of energy, with each of the four plants providing 1,400 megawatts.

The reactors are a key element of the UAE’s plans to diversify its sources of energy and reduce its carbon footprint.

Once the four reactors are completed, they are expected to provide nearly 25 per cent of the UAE’s electricity needs and save up to 12 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year.

Staff Report