Thursday, Mar 15, 2012
Gulf News
Dubai Dubai will start importing nuclear energy from Abu Dhabi by 2020, a top government official has told Gulf News.
Najeeb Zaafrani, Secretary-General and CEO of the Dubai Supreme Energy Council, said that a deal had been agreed with Abu Dhabi but the parties had not yet settled on the cost of the power.
“Dubai does not plan to build nuclear power plants of its own but will import power from Abu Dhabi,” he said.
“We discussed this agreement with Abu Dhabi, but are still negotiating the price which will be finalised soon.”
Abu Dhabi recently chose a group of South Korean firms to build the country’s first nuclear power stations, at a cost of $20 billion (Dh73.5 billion).
Four power plants, to be built by 2020, will supply up to a quarter of the emirate’s energy in ten years and will drastically reduce the country’s carbon footprint.
The South Korean consortium, led by Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco), expects to complete the first plant by 2017.
Speaking about the project, Zaafrani said: “Abu Dhabi’s nuclear power plants have been designed according to the golden standard in terms of safety measures and up-to-date technology.”
He said that if its energy demand increases, Dubai plans to build nuclear power plants after 2020.
Energy Strategy
Zaafrani explained that while 99 per cent of Dubai’s energy production is from gas and one per cent from diesel, the Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 will reduce its dependence on these fuels.
“The Dubai Integrated Energy Strategy 2030 includes a plan to diversify its energy sources,” he said.
“[The plan is] that solar energy contributes one per cent of energy production by 2020, increasing to 5 per cent by 2030. Twelve per cent of energy will be generated from nuclear and another 12 per cent from clean coal. Seventy-one per cent of Dubai’s energy will be generated from gas.”
The Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Solar Park, that will have a 1,000 megawatt capacity, will be developed at a cost of Dh12 billion to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and to reduce carbon emissions.
The project will be implemented by the Supreme Energy Council and be managed and operated by the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa).
Dubai does not plan to build nuclear power plants of its own but will import power from Abu Dhabi. We discussed this agreement with Abu Dhabi, but are still negotiating the price.”
Najeeb Zaafrani
Secretary-General and CEO of the Dubai Supreme Energy Council
By Zaher Bitar ?Staff Reporter
Gulf News 2012. All rights reserved.
