The UAE Has Completed the Arab World's First Nuclear Plant

Publish date: Saturday، 07 September 2024

The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi will generate 40 terawatt-hours of electricity annually once its fourth and final reactor becomes operational, according to a statement from the state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). This will meet 25% of the electricity demand in the UAE, a country heavily reliant on air conditioning due to its desert climate—comparable to New Zealand’s yearly consumption, ENEC noted.

The plant will supply power to major corporations, including the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Emirates Steel, and Emirates Global Aluminium. Barakah, which means "blessing" in Arabic, began operations in 2020 with the activation of its first reactor.

Saudi Arabia, the world's leading oil exporter, has also announced plans to build its own nuclear reactors. Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan praised the completion of Barakah as a crucial milestone toward achieving net-zero emissions. He reaffirmed the UAE's commitment to energy security and sustainability for the present and future in a post on the social media platform X.

The International Atomic Energy Agency stated that the plant would need to be decommissioned in around 60-80 years. Although the UAE is one of OPEC's largest oil producers and its economy has long been driven by oil, the country is investing heavily in renewable energy, aiming to meet 50% of its energy needs through sustainable sources by 2050. It also hosted the COP28 UN climate talks, where an agreement to gradually move away from fossil fuels was reached.

The UAE, located across the Gulf from Iran, which operates a Russian-built nuclear power plant and has a controversial uranium enrichment program, has consistently emphasized that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes and has ruled out developing enrichment or reprocessing capabilities. While the UAE relies largely on gas-powered stations for electricity, it also boasts one of the world’s largest solar plants near Abu Dhabi.

The UAE Has Completed the Arab World's First Nuclear Plant

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