The United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued a licence for a reactor at its Barakah nuclear power plant on 17 February. The information was passed by Hamad al-Kaabi, the UAE representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency. The move is in line with the UAE’s vision to build a peaceful nuclear energy programme to cater to the future needs of energy in the country. Barakah plant: With this approval, the UAE became the first Arab country in the region to operate a nuclear power plant. The approval was delayed since 2017 due to safety and regulatory requirements. Abu Dhabi authorities stated that the plant will start operating within a few months. The Barakah plant is located on the Gulf coast west of the UAE’s capital. The plant is being built by a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation in a deal worth over $20 billion. The operation of the Barakah plant will contribute to the UAE’s efforts for development and sustainability. Once made operational, the four reactors in the plant have the capacity to generate 5,600 megawatts (MW) of electricity, around 25% of the nation’s needs. The remaining three reactors are almost ready for operation.
