The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) reports that it has completed initial construction activities at the Barakah unit 1 nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The completion of initial construction work of Unit 1 was preceded by the successful completion of the Hot Functional Test (HFT) at the end of 2016, ENEC said. The plant systems have been handed over to Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power (KHNP), a subsidiary of KEPCO, for testing and commissioning in preparation for safety-led nuclear operations.
“The completion of initial construction of the first nuclear reactor at Barakah is a great achievement,” said World Nuclear Association (WNA) Director General Agneta Rising. “I commend the efforts of all those involved in achieving this milestone.”
Barakah Unit 1 is the first of four reactors being built at the Barakah site. Construction started in July 2012 and the overall project, including construction, testing and commissioning of systems, is now over 95 per cent complete.
Unit 1 is scheduled to start operations in 2018 and ENEC aims to deliver all four reactors in accordance with international safety standards by 2020.
“The completion of Unit 1 construction activities and the handover of all systems for commissioning are important milestones in a project that is critical to the future energy mix of the UAE, and they reflect the professionalism and dedication of everyone involved in the project,” said Mohamed Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC.
The four reactors at Barakah will have a total capacity of 5.6 GWe and will position the UAE as a leading newcomer country in the nuclear sector.
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