PHOTO
The construction of the United Arab Emirates' nuclear reactors is moving ahead and the commissioning process of the country's first nuclear energy plant is well underway, the UAE’s Minister of Energy and Industry has said.
“The construction of my country’s four reactors continues to progress well, with overall completion of all four standing at more than 84 percent,” Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry at the UAE said at the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, which began in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
At the beginning of 2017, the UAE launched its National Energy Strategy 2050, which targets 50 percent use of clean energy in its total energy mix by 2050, of which 44 percent will be generated from renewables and 6 percent from nuclear energy.
The long term strategy also aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 70 percent.
“Nuclear energy forms an essential part of the de-carbonisation of the UAE energy mix,” Al Mazrouei said at the conference.
“Once all reactors are fully operational, the four units will produce up to 25 percent of the UAE’s energy needs – a significant contribution,” he added.
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) currently leads the development of the UAE’s nuclear sector. It will operate and maintain the Barakah nuclear reactor once it is commissioned, which is expected to be next year.
The first four reactors are being built by a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation under a $20 billion contract that was awarded in 2009.
A press release issued on Monday quoted ENEC's CEO, Mohamed Al Hammadi stating that the UAE's nuclear programme had already been of economic benefit to the country as "already more than 1,400 UAE-based companies have been contracted for the delivery of products and services for the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, with contracts worth over $3.3 billion," he said.
The UAE also established an independent regulatory body in 2009, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), to oversee nuclear safety, radiation protection, and security.
Further reading:
• Saudi Arabia to extract uranium for self-sufficient nuclear programme
• Saudi Arabia to award nuclear reactor contract by end 2018-official
• UAE Energy Plan 2050 to attract sustainable longterm investments
• Geothermal energy eyed in the UAE
• Abu Dhabi awards mega solar power project
© ZAWYA 2017
“The construction of my country’s four reactors continues to progress well, with overall completion of all four standing at more than 84 percent,” Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry at the UAE said at the International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, which began in Abu Dhabi on Monday.
At the beginning of 2017, the UAE launched its National Energy Strategy 2050, which targets 50 percent use of clean energy in its total energy mix by 2050, of which 44 percent will be generated from renewables and 6 percent from nuclear energy.
The long term strategy also aims to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 70 percent.
“Nuclear energy forms an essential part of the de-carbonisation of the UAE energy mix,” Al Mazrouei said at the conference.
“Once all reactors are fully operational, the four units will produce up to 25 percent of the UAE’s energy needs – a significant contribution,” he added.
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) currently leads the development of the UAE’s nuclear sector. It will operate and maintain the Barakah nuclear reactor once it is commissioned, which is expected to be next year.
The first four reactors are being built by a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation under a $20 billion contract that was awarded in 2009.
A press release issued on Monday quoted ENEC's CEO, Mohamed Al Hammadi stating that the UAE's nuclear programme had already been of economic benefit to the country as "already more than 1,400 UAE-based companies have been contracted for the delivery of products and services for the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, with contracts worth over $3.3 billion," he said.
The UAE also established an independent regulatory body in 2009, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), to oversee nuclear safety, radiation protection, and security.
Further reading:
• Saudi Arabia to extract uranium for self-sufficient nuclear programme
• Saudi Arabia to award nuclear reactor contract by end 2018-official
• UAE Energy Plan 2050 to attract sustainable longterm investments
• Geothermal energy eyed in the UAE
• Abu Dhabi awards mega solar power project
© ZAWYA 2017
