UAE starts operating first nuclear power plant in Arab world

Angela August 1, 2020

Less than a minute

Once fully operational, the four units of Barakah will meet up to 25 percent of the nation’s electricity demands.

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) today announced that its operating and maintenance subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company (Nawah) has successfully started up Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, located in Al Dhafrah Region of Abu Dhabi.

This step is the most historic milestone to date in the delivery of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme, as part of the process towards generating clean electricity for the Nation for at least the next 60 years, the UAE news agency WAM reported.

The start-up of Unit 1 marks the first time that the reactor safely produces heat that is used to create steam, turning a turbine to generate electricity.