Barakah Nuclear Plant Achieves 25% UAE Power Generation
The UAE’s ambitious nuclear energy project reached a historic milestone as its fourth and final unit at the Barakah power plant started commercial operations. The plant produces 40 TWh of electricity each year, matching New Zealand’s total yearly power consumption. Barakah’s total nameplate capacity of 5600 MW now meets up to 25% of UAE’s electricity demands.
The nation’s power landscape has revolutionized since the first connection of Unit 1 to the grid in August 2020. Additional units became operational in 2021, 2022, and 2024. A South Korean consortium received a $20 billion contract to build these four commercial reactors. The UAE has cut its fossil fuel reliance from over 95% to about 70% through this strategic initiative. This clean, carbon-free power source generates enough electricity to run 16 million electric vehicles yearly.
UAE launches Barakah nuclear program with global partnerships
Image Source: Al Jazeera
The UAE government made a landmark decision in April 2008 that would revolutionize its energy future for decades. UAE officials published a detailed policy document about the nation’s nuclear goals after they got a full picture of future energy needs.
Why the UAE chose nuclear energy in 2008
A critical energy study in 2007 drove the UAE’s decision. The study showed electricity demand would surge to more than 40,000 megawatts by 2020. Officials looked at many energy options but found problems with each standard choice:
- Natural gas supplies couldn’t meet the electricity sector’s future needs
- Oil and diesel burning worked logistically but harmed the environment
- Environmental concerns and supply security risks ruled out coal generation
- Renewable energy could only provide 6-7% of needed capacity by 2020 (later changed to 4%)
Nuclear power then “emerged as a proven, environmentally promising and commercially competitive option” that could deliver reliable baseload electricity.
How international agreements shaped the program
Six core principles formed the foundations of UAE’s nuclear program: operational transparency, highest non-proliferation standards, rigorous safety protocols, direct IAEA collaboration, mutually beneficial alliances with responsible nations, and long-term sustainability. The country also made a key choice to avoid domestic uranium enrichment and fuel reprocessing capabilities.
International observers called this approach “the gold standard” for nuclear energy development. The UAE built strong partnerships through bilateral cooperation agreements with experienced nuclear nations like France, South Korea, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
What role the IAEA and USA played in early development
The International Atomic Energy Agency helped guide the program through its Milestones Approach framework. The UAE’s relationship with IAEA started in 1976 and grew stronger after 2008. IAEA ran 12 specific missions that covered nuclear safety, security, radiation protection, and regulatory systems.
The “123 Agreement” signed with the United States in December 2009 created legal guidelines for nuclear trade between both countries. American firms gained new opportunities while ensuring strong nonproliferation guarantees. US companies in 33 states have won contracts worth over AED 10.10 billion from this project.
These collaborative efforts helped the UAE build the Arab world’s first working nuclear power program.
ENEC awards $20B contract to South Korea for Barakah plant
Image Source: NucNet
A 75-member international expert committee’s extensive review led ENEC to make history in December 2009. KEPCO-led consortium won the AED 73.44 billion contract to design, build, and help run the Barakah nuclear power plant. The consortium beat competing bids from France’s Areva and a GE-Hitachi alliance.
Who won the bid and why the APR1400 was selected
The winning team brought together KEPCO, Hyundai Engineering and Construction, Samsung C&T, Doosan Heavy Industries, and Westinghouse Electric. KEPCO’s bid stood out because of its safety track record and showed it could meet UAE’s program goals with a strong focus on knowledge sharing. The Korean APR1400 reactor design won after a full review that looked at safety, delivery capability, business factors, and plans to develop local talent.
KEPCO said they won because their APR1400 had the best capacity factor, cost less to build, and needed less time to construct compared to other options. The South Korean bid came in AED 58.75 billion lower than what the French team offered.
How the Barakah site was chosen and prepared
The team picked Barakah in the Al Dhafra Region, about 53 kilometers west-southwest of Al Dhannah city, after a complete site review. They looked at earthquake history, distance from cities, access to water and power grid, and security needs.
FANR and the Environment Agency-Abu Dhabi gave two green lights in July 2010 to start early work. The first permit allowed infrastructure setup, while the second one let them manufacture critical parts. The site got its final approval in July 2012.
What the construction plan and timeline looked like
The original plan called for four 1,400-megawatt reactors to be ready by 2020. The team poured safety-critical concrete for Unit 1 in July 2012. Unit 2 followed in May 2013, Unit 3 in September 2014, and Unit 4 in September 2015.
The project moved forward with clear goals that included installing reactor vessels, completing containment liners, and testing water pressure. The contract also created extensive training programs to build local expertise. This would help UAE citizens eventually run most of their nuclear program.
Barakah units come online in phases from 2020 to 2024
Image Source: S&P Global
The Barakah nuclear power plant’s experience from construction to full operation spanned four years and marked historic milestones for nuclear energy in UAE.
Unit 1: From construction to commercial operation
Construction of Unit 1 reached completion in March 2018, though its original operation faced delays. The unit got its operating license in February 2020 and fuel loading started right away. Power from the unit reached the national grid in August 2020 and hit 100% capacity by December 2020. The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) conducted 312 independent inspections before Unit 1 started commercial operation in April 2021. This 1400 MW unit became UAE’s largest electricity generator.
Unit 2 and 3: Overcoming delays and safety reviews
Each unit went through detailed safety evaluations. FANR’s operational readiness review revealed over 400 adverse findings that delayed startup by at least 18 months. Unit 2’s construction finished in July 2020, and it got its operating license in March 2021. Commercial operation began by March 2022. Unit 3 followed a similar path – construction completed in November 2021, operating license arrived in June 2022, and commercial operation started in February 2023.
Unit 4: Final unit achieves commercial operation in 2024
Unit 4 connected to the grid in March 2024 and achieved commercial operation in September 2024. The four operational units now generate 40 TWh of electricity annually and meet up to 25% of UAE’s electricity needs. Each new unit came online more efficiently than the last – Unit 3’s delivery was four months faster than Unit 2 and five months faster than Unit 1.
UAE strengthens nuclear safety and public trust
The UAE’s nuclear oversight infrastructure has FANR (Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation) as its life-blood. This 14-year old independent regulatory body creates and enforces nuclear safety regulations that line up with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) standards. FANR uses a detailed inspection program to check compliance and can impose fines when rules are broken. The regulatory framework has rules for nuclear safety, security, radiation protection, and safeguards.
How FANR regulates nuclear safety in the UAE
FANR’s system has facility-specific licensing, deep safety assessments, and consistent inspections. The authority completed more than 312 independent inspections just for Unit 1. They found over 400 issues during operational readiness reviews and delayed the startup by at least 18 months to fix safety concerns.
What public opinion surveys reveal about support
Independent polls show 82% of UAE residents support nuclear energy for electricity generation. The numbers tell an interesting story – 98% believe ENEC makes safety their top priority, while 96% trust Barakah plant’s safety standards. Local support in Al Dhafra region, where the plant sits, grew from 84% in 2017 to 94% in 2018.
How the UAE ensures non-proliferation and waste management
The UAE gave up its right to enrich uranium or reprocess materials domestically. The country created the NuTech Portal to track nuclear-related transfers and follows detailed waste management protocols. The spent fuel cools in pools before moving to dry casks for long-term storage.
The Barakah nuclear power plant stands as proof of UAE’s strategic vision to diversify energy and ensure sustainability. The project followed strict international standards and kept transparency and safety as top priorities. So, UAE has altered the map of its energy sector by cutting fossil fuel dependence from over 95% to around 70%.
This remarkable trip started with a forward-thinking policy decision in 2008 and concluded when Unit 4 began commercial operation in 2024. The $20 billion investment now generates 40 TWh of clean electricity each year—matching New Zealand’s total consumption. Success came through mutually beneficial alliances, especially when you have South Korea’s KEPCO consortium that shared both technology and knowledge.
Safety remained the life-blood of development, as shown by FANR’s extensive regulatory oversight and hundreds of inspections. UAE residents strongly back this approach, with 82% supporting nuclear energy and 98% believing ENEC puts safety first.
The Barakah plant shows how countries can meet growing energy needs while reducing their carbon footprints. The UAE has set what international observers call “the gold standard” for nuclear energy development through its steadfast dedication to non-proliferation and open operations.
Benefits go beyond just making electricity. UAE’s citizens now have new career paths in an advanced technical field that didn’t exist before. It also serves as a model for neighboring countries looking to diversify their energy strategies.
Without doubt, running all four units at Barakah marks both an engineering triumph and one of the most important steps toward the nation’s economic diversity and environmental goals. The plant’s 5600 MW capacity now powers a quarter of the nation, making UAE a regional leader in clean energy production for decades ahead.
