UAE: Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant completes Unit 3 start-up

UAE: Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant completes Unit 3 start-up

Next key milestone would be to connect Unit 3 to the national electricity grid

Published: Thu 22 Sep 2022, 6:30 PM Last updated: Thu 22 Sep 2022, 7:38 PM

Authorities have successfully started up Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has announced. The milestone shows the significant progress being made in activating the four units of Arab World’s first multi-unit operational nuclear plant.

Unit 3, once commercially operational, will add another 1,400 megawatts of zero-carbon emission electricity capacity to the national grid, a major boost for UAE energy security, and a major step forward in tackling climate change.

The achievement comes one year after Unit 2’s successful start-up. The next key milestone would be to connect Unit 3 to the national electricity grid in the “coming weeks”.

The announcement comes at a time when many countries are looking to mitigate shortages as a result of the global energy crisis. Authorities said the UAE’s decision to add nuclear energy to its energy mix back in 2008 is “paying dividends today”.

The clean electricity generated at Barakah is sustainably powering homes, business and high-tech industries across the UAE.

Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, managing director and chief executive officer