Nawah said the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) board of directors had approved the licence on 9 March following “rigorous assessments and independent reviews” of Nawah’s operational readiness, including the successful completion of a pre-startup review by the World Association of Nuclear Operators.
Hamad Al Kaabi, UAE permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency and FANR deputy chairman, said the review process had been exhaustive.
“This is the result of intensive work and collaboration with national and international stakeholders such as the International Atomic Energy Agency, Republic of Korea and other international regulatory bodies,” he said.
Mr Al Kaabi said that the commercial operation of Unit 1 would be announced soon. In December 2020, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation said Barakah-1 had reached 100% of its rated power and commercial operation was scheduled for early 2021.
The Barakah nuclear station, in the Al Dhafra region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, is the first commercial nuclear energy facility in the Arab world and one of the largest nuclear energy new-build projects.
All four units are being supplied by main contractor and joint venture partner Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco). Each unit is 1,345 MW with a total net installed capacity for the station of 5,380 MW.
