The United Arab Emirates has successfully completed the Arab world’s first nuclear power plant, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) said in a statement.
According to ENEC, the four-reactor plant will provide 25 percent of the electricity required by the hot, desert Gulf state, where air-conditioning is widespread—approximately equivalent to New Zealand’s annual electricity consumption.
It will also power major industries such as oil production, steel manufacturing, and aluminum production.
The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is situated in Al Dhafra, within the Emirate of Abu Dhabi on the Arabian Gulf, about 53 km west-southwest of the city of Ruwais.
Emirati President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan hailed the completion as a significant step towards achieving net zero emissions.
“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.
The Barakah plant is part of the UAE’s efforts to diversify its energy sources and ensure energy security. It is also a major step towards achieving the country’s goal of covering half of its electricity needs with renewable energy by 2050, ENEC stated.
