UAE: What is Barakah? and Why Does Your Phone Say Barakah?

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) announced today that the Unit 1 of Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant has started commercial operations.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, said that the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Program, which is run by the UAE talented and fully qualified Emirati expertise, along with global expertise, will be a game changer of the energy sector in the country.

The UAE government entity mandated to deliver the UAE program, the ENEC, part of ADQ, one of region’s largest holding companies, confirmed that its operating and maintenance subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company (Nawah) has successfully started commercial operations of the first Unit of Barakah Plant, following the completion of all testing activities.

What is Barakah?

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

The 1400 MW Unit 1 is now providing constant, reliable, and sustainable electricity around the clock, with three further units to begin generating in the coming years. As a result, ENEC is now leading the largest decarbonisation effort of any industry in the UAE to date.

Electricity produced at Barakah Plant feeds into the national grid in the same manner as other energy plants, providing clean electricity to homes and businesses across the country.

Barakah One Company, ENEC’s subsidiary in charge of the financial and commercial activities of the Barakah project, signed a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with the Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC) in 2016 to purchase all electricity generated at the plant for the next 60 years.

The start of commercial operations follows a period of extensive testing, overseen by the independent national regulator – the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). FANR conducted 312 independent inspections since the start of Barakah’s development.

These reviews have been conducted alongside more than 42 assessments and peer reviews by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO).

Barakah Unit 2

Construction of the Plant began in 2012 and has progressed steadily ever since. Unit 2 has now completed the fuel load process and is working through all of the required processes prior to start-up, scheduled for later in 2021.

Out with the old (oil) and in with the new (nuclear)! That’s the case today in the UAE.@JDefteriosCNN got exclusive access to the country’s new commercial nuclear power plant, Barakah. The first, and only one, of its kind in the Middle East.

Take a look ? pic.twitter.com/dBEuTiyXrT

— Connect the World (@CNNConnect) April 7, 2021

Barakah Unit 3 and 4

Construction of Units 3 and 4 are in the final stages with the Units 94 percent and 89 percent complete respectively, benefitting from the experience and lessons learned during the construction of Units 1 and  The construction of the Barakah Plant as a whole is now more than 95 percent complete.