|
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) hosted His Excellency Sang-jick Yoon, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy of the Republic of Korea, at Barakah, the selected site of the UAE peaceful nuclear energy program located in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi, to celebrate the successful partnership between the two countries and commemorate the start of construction for the UAE’s second nuclear energy plant.
His Excellency Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Chairman of ENEC praised the commitment demonstrated by the Korean Government in the development of the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy program, and thanked Minister Yoon for his Government’s continued support as the two nations work together to deliver a world-class nuclear energy program to the UAE.
Also attending the occasion was UAE Minister of State and CEO of Masdar, H.E. Sultan Al Jaber; H.E. Mohamed Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC and senior representatives from the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), ENEC’s Prime Contractor.
In line with the approved Construction License from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), ENEC poured the first safety concrete for Unit 2, marking the official start of construction of the UAE’s second nuclear energy plant. Construction of the Unit 2 plant will take five years, with the plant scheduled to enter commercial operation in 2018, pending further regulatory approvals.
ENEC will apply for an Operating License for Units 1 and 2 in 2015 and recently submitted the Construction License Application for Units 3 & 4 to FANR in March 2013.
“We are drawing on the skills and expertise of a world-class nuclear corporation through our Prime Contractor KEPCO,” said H.E. Mohamed Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC.
“One of the key factors of the bidding process to support the UAE’s nuclear energy program, along with meeting the highest standards of safety and quality, was the company’s ability to provide the resources and capabilities to deliver these key early development stages of the project. KEPCO is meeting our goal of delivering the gold standard of peaceful nuclear energy development and we are very proud of the progress we are making with our partners.”
“With the construction of our second plant now underway, we have reached another important milestone in our mission to bring safe, clean, reliable and efficient nuclear energy to the UAE,” said Mr Al Hammadi.
“We are committed to delivering a world-class program from construction through to operations, and I would like to congratulate our entire team and KEPCO, for their dedication to carrying out their work with safety and quality top of mind at all times.”
ENEC is working to deliver safe, clean, efficient and reliable nuclear energy to help address the UAE’s future energy requirements, which is expected to grow at a rate of 9 per cent per year - three times the global average.
ENEC officially commenced the construction of the UAE’s first nuclear energy plant last year by pouring the first nuclear safety concrete for Barakah Unit 1.
ENEC is constructing a total of four nuclear energy plants in Barakah. In July 2012, ENEC received its Construction License from the Federal Authority of Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and a No Objection Certificate from the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi for the construction of the first two plants.
The first plant is expected to commence operations in 2017, pending further regulatory approvals. As well as diversifying the nation’s energy supply, with four plants online by 2020, nuclear energy will save the UAE up to 12 million tons of CO2 emissions each year.
For more information about ENEC visit: www.enec.gov.ae
|
New
Review
Abu Dhabi International Airport - 41°F
