Abu Dhabi, UAE–The commercial operations of the Unit 3 of Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi has commenced, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) said.
As the third unit to be delivered in three consecutive years, this adds a further 1,400 megawatts (MW) of zero-carbon emission electricity capacity, boosting total production from Units 1, 2 and 3 of Barakah up to 4,200MW of clean electricity for the UAE national grid.
Unit 3 of the Barakah Plant has completed the process from Fuel Load to Commercial Operations more than four months faster than Unit 2 and more than five months faster than Unit 1.
ENEC and its subsidiaries are now one unit away from completing the four-unit Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant and realizing its commitment to deliver up to 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity demands.
The first multi-unit operating plant in the Arab World, Barakah, has already powered more than 80 percent of Abu Dhabi emirate’s clean electricity consumption in December 2022.
Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said, “In the Year of Sustainability for the UAE, we are proud to take the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme another step forward with Unit 3 beginning commercial operations. This has been achieved less than a year after successfully starting commercial operations for Unit 2. Barakah is a successful global benchmark for other nations looking to diversify their energy portfolio during a time of international energy crises.”