UAE licenses 'Unit 2' of Barakah nuclear power plant - will hold 'nuclear emergency drill' by year-end

Dubai: – The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced that Unit -2 in the Barakah nuclear project would be activated. The UAE government claimed that the activation of two nuclear reactors within one year becomes a major achievement for the country. Meanwhile, tension is reigning in the Middle East over the Iranian nuclear program. In this scenario, the UAE’s announcement that it has activated a second nuclear reactor becomes significant.

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) of UAE approved the activation of Unit-2 at Al Dhafra. The UAE claimed that the Barakah nuclear project’s work is being carried out within the framework of the international regulations. Barakah nuclear project is the first nuclear project in Arab countries. The project has been built by the South Korean company KEPKO. UAE will be building a total of 7 nuclear reactors in the project.

The first nuclear reactor was activated last year. UAE is building this nuclear project in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi. Last year in August, the Unit-1 of the project was connected to the power grid. In the tests conducted in December, the unit generated power to 100% of its capacity. The commercial use of the nuclear reactor will start from this year.

It is claimed that the third and fourth nuclear reactors will be activated within the next year. The project will generate 5,600 megawatts of electricity once all four reactors are fully operational. In that scenario, 25% of the electricity requirement of UAE will be met by these four reactors. Hamad Alkaabi, UAE representative at the International Atomic Energy Agency, welcomed this stand of his country.

Alkaabi said that the decision to activate Unit-2 in the Barakah nuclear project goes to show that the UAE has visionary leadership. Alkaabi also said that this was a strategic success.

Meanwhile, UAE, which activated one more nuclear reactor in one year, has organised nuclear emergency exercises at the end of this year. It is claimed that 170 countries will be participating in these exercises lasting for 36 hours. Assessment of the international response and capability will be done through these exercises. Alkaabi informed that the exercises will be held at the Barakah nuclear project, located 340 kilometres from the Iranian coastline.

The tension regarding the nuclear project of Iran, to the east of UAE, is increasing. It is being accused that Iran is developing nuclear weapons. In contrast, there is also a persistent threat of drone and missile attacks from the Houthi rebels to the south of UAE. Alkaabi underlined that these exercises are necessary for the security of the nuclear project in this scenario and to be prepared to face any future crisis.