Unit 2 of the UAE’s nuclear energy plant begins commercial operation

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) on Thursday announced the beginning of commercial operations of Unit 2 at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant which adds 1,400 megawatts of zero-carbon emission electricity to the UAE national grid.

The second unit begins operations 12 months after the first, which brings the total production to 2,800 megawatts; hence, securing energy supply and advancing the UAE's sustainability goals, ENEC said in a statement.

“This new milestone takes ENEC and its subsidiaries to the halfway mark of delivering on its commitment to supply up a quarter of the country's electricity needs, reliably powering the economy by generating clean electricity 24/7 and significantly contributing to the UAE's Net-Zero by 2050 initiative,” said ENEC.

Barakah plant is the first multi-unit operating nuclear plant in the Arab World. It comprises of four units that aims to produce up to 25 percent of the UAE's electricity needs and prevent about 22.4 million tons of carbon emissions annually.

The company said by 2025, the plant will generate more than 85 percent of the UAE’s capital Abu Dhabi Emirate's clean electricity.

"We are committed to efficient and reliable power generation to ensure homes, businesses and industry across the UAE have continuous access to clean baseload electricity and will do so for the coming 60 years ahead,” said Nasser Al Nasseri, the CEO of Barakah One Company, ENEC's subsidiary. 

“The sale of electricity further supports Abu Dhabi's Clean Energy Certification program, allowing more businesses to demonstrate the sustainability credentials and stimulating the growth of our Net Zero economy," he added.

The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is located in the Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi. It is one of the largest nuclear energy plants in the world, with four APR-1400 units.