The fourth station will increase the project’s total production capacity to 5,600 megawatts of carbon-free electricity, providing up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs.
The government-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation announced the start of operation of the fourth Barakah nuclear power plant, according to a statement from the Abu Dhabi Media Office on Friday.
The UAE nuclear program aims to diversify the country’s energy sources and provide environmentally friendly electricity. The Gulf state – a member of the OPEC and OPEC+ blocs – plans to triple the contribution of renewable energy by the year 2030, with the contribution of clean energy (renewable and nuclear energy) being 32% by the year 2030 and 38% by the year 2035.
According to the statement, the fourth station will raise the total production capacity of the project to 5,600 megawatts of carbon-free electricity, meaning that it will provide up to 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs.
The Barakah nuclear power plants, which began construction in 2012 in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi, are one of the largest new nuclear energy projects in the world. It consists of 4 stations with four reactors developed in South Korea.
The station is expected to begin commercial operation in the coming months after the completion of final tests, according to the statement.
Nawah Energy Company, a subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, is responsible for operating and maintaining the plants.
