UAE marks major milestone as Barakah plant's Unit 4 starts commercial operation

The UAE is marking a historic milestone with the fourth and final unit of the Barakah nuclear energy plant entering commercial operations, achieving full delivery of the facility located in Al Dhafra region.

It now generates 40 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, and supplies up to 25 per cent of the UAE’s power needs.

Hailed as one of the most successful new nuclear projects in the past three decades, the Barakah plant marks a significant engineering and teamwork triumph, and a major national achievement.

The facility's clean energy output could power 16 million electric vehicles each year, representing the UAE’s largest decarbonisation effort to date.

The 22.4 million tonnes of annual carbon emissions prevented by the Barakah plant are equivalent to removing 4.6 million cars from the roads each year and contribute to achieving 24 per cent of the nation's 2030 decarbonisation commitments.

The project is also delivering wide-ranging economic benefits and enhancing job opportunities for young people.

"The Barakah nuclear energy plant offers a new model for the world and demonstrates that nuclear energy is bankable and can be delivered efficiently, with our units coming online within eight years from first concrete pour to fuel load and achieving a 40% improvement in schedule from start of operational readiness to commercial operations for Unit 4 compared to Unit 1," said Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC).

Eng. Ali Al Hammadi, CEO of Nawah Energy Company, ENEC’s subsidiary mandated to operate and maintain the Barakah plant, said, "Barakah and our teams have undergone over 496 inspections from the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, over 84 World Association for Nuclear Operators reviews and 15 missions from the International Atomic Energy Agency, demonstrating our commitment to the highest standards."

Unit 4 at @ENEC_UAE’s Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Al Dhafra Region, Abu Dhabi, has commenced commercial operations, marking completion of the first fully operational nuclear energy facility in the Arab World, generating 40 terawatt hours of clean electricity per year. pic.twitter.com/CH8YgSKq72

— مكتب أبوظبي الإعلامي (@ADMediaOffice) September 5, 2024