The UAE is making progress on 5.6GW of planned nuclear capacity set to come online during 2017-20. Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) CEO Muhammad al-Hammadi told a 7 October Abu Dhabi public forum that the first plant was on target for a 2017 start-up, with “a number of significant milestones already achieved.” Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco) has started work on two of four plants to be built at Barakah under a $40bn 2009 deal (MEES, 31 May).
Kepco poured first concrete for Barakah-2 earlier this year, having begun building Unit 1 in July 2012. With four plants slated to come online by 2020, Mr Hammadi says nuclear energy will deliver up to one-quarter of the nation’s electricity needs. ENEC has been working with Kepco to help local companies meet the nuclear industry’s quality and technical standards. “More than 200 UAE companies supply products and services to the program, with more than $1bn in contracts awarded to local companies” he says. (CONTINUED - 579 WORDS)
