MANAMA: The UAE nuclear programme has been dubbed a model for nuclear newcomers. Cooperation with international bodies like the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) was extensive while the country built up its programme, according to APICORP Energy Research June 2016.
The UAE established a Nuclear Energy Program Implementation Organization, which set up the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). Abu Dhabi even agreed to forgo domestic enrichment, obtaining its nuclear fuel from reliable and responsible international suppliers and returning radioactive waste.
The UAE is the only GCC state with nuclear plants under construction. At the heart of the country’s nuclear strategy is the construction of the Barakah nuclear power plant. Korea Electric Power Corporation is building four 1 .4GW power plants at a cost of $20bn, with another $20 billion allocated for the operation of the plants during their 60-year lifetime.
The construction of the first and second reactors is complete and the third is under way. The first of the four plants is scheduled to begin operations in July 201 7, with an additional reactor coming on line each year until 2020. ENEC expects the four nuclear reactors when on-line will meet up to a quarter of the UAE’s power demand. Over the coming decades, the UAE hopes to add a further 14.4GW of nuclear capacity, but no firm plans have yet been announced.
