UAE completes Arab world’s first nuclear plant

DUBAI: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday announced the completion of the Arab world’s first nuclear power plant, calling it a “significant step”.

Abu Dhabi’s Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant will produce 40 terawatt-hours of electricity annually after its fourth and final reactor has entered commercial operation, the state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) said in a statement.

It will generate 25 percent of the electricity needs of the hot, desert Gulf state, where air-conditioning is ubiquitous -- nearly the equivalent of New Zealand’s annual consumption, ENEC said.

The station will power companies including the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), one of the world’s biggest oil producers, Emirates Steel and Emirates Global Aluminium, ENEC said.

Barakah, which means “blessing” in Arabic, started operations in 2020 when the first of its four reactors went into service.

Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan hailed Barakah’s completion as a “significant step on the journey towards net zero”.

“We will continue to prioritise energy security and sustainability for the benefit of our nation and our people today and tomorrow,” he said in a post on social media platform X.