The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), the operator of the Barakah nuclear project, confirmed that “the construction work in the first unit, in preparation for the operational phase, will be completed by the end of 2019 and early 2020”.
The United Arab Emirates has announced on July 4th that the first of its four nuclear reactors would be in service between the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020, having previously confirmed that the production of nuclear power from this reactor will begin in 2018.
The United Arab Emirates has previously announced, last March, the completion of construction work in this reactor, and to be operated and start nuclear power generation after the issuance of the necessary license.
But Abu Dhabi Energy Minister Suhail Mohamed Faraj Al Mazrouei said in September that production from the first reactor would “start in 2018” after it was supposed to be done in 2017.
In 2009, the UAE signed a contract with a consortium led by Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO) worth $ 20.4 billion to build nuclear reactors in the western region of Baraka, Abu Dhabi.
The UAE is looking to contribute by 2020 to producing about 25% of its electricity needs.
