Once fully operational, the facility will provide up to 25% of the UAE's electricity needs without generating any carbon emissions, while freeing up an equivalent of billions worth of natural gas resources, it stated.

 

The milestone achievement was celebrated at a key ceremony held in the presence of President HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol at the Barakah plant located in the Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi.

 

Once fully operational, the Barakah Plant will provide abundant clean and reliable electricity 24/7 to power the UAE’s industries and over half a million homes, as well as supporting the UAE’s strategy for becoming a net-exporter of LNG by 2030, said the statement from Enec. 

 

As the nation looks forward to hosting COP28, the Barakah Plant is preventing millions of tons of carbon emissions annually whilst helping to meet the growing demand for energy.

 

The presidential visit comes in line with efforts to build on the existing Special Strategic Partnership between the UAE and South Korea with the recent signing of a number of government-level agreements.

 

The two leaders later toured the Barakah plant, which generates clean, zero-emissions electricity, sustainably powering the UAE. 

 

They also witnessed the ongoing operation of Units 1 and 2, the completion of Unit 3 and the progress made on Unit 4 in accelerating the UAE’s clean energy transition and generating the 24/7 carbon-free baseload electricity the UAE requires to complement its renewable projects in bid to achieve Net Zero by 2050, said Enec.

 

They lauded the exceptional achievements marked throughout more than a decade at the Barakah Plant, the first civil nuclear energy plant in the Arab World and the largest source of clean electricity in the region.

 

During the inspection tour, the leaders met the teams working at Barakah, both Emirati and Korean nuclear energy experts working side by side with specialists from across the globe. 

 

Sheikh Mohamed said the bilateral cooperation in a number of key sectors including nuclear energy plays a vital role in supporting international efforts to deliver global energy security and drive sustainable development.

 

"The relationship between UAE and Korea has been continuously strengthened through the decade-long collaboration in developing the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. In 2009, the UAE prioritised energy security while in parallel accelerating a rapid transition to cleaner energy sources through the use of civil nuclear energy," he added. 

 

In his address, Yoon Suk Yeol said the Barakah nuclear fleet, which has two units in operation and the other two soon to be operational, holds great, monumental significance as it represents the special strategic partnership between the two nations. 

 

"Building on the success that we have achieved jointly as partners at Barakah and capitalising on Team Korea’s excellent nuclear technology and experience, now is the time for us to further our partnership to a greater height delivering additional cooperation in the UAE and making headway into third country nuclear markets together," he noted. 

 

"I hope that my visit marks a watershed for our comprehensive and strategic energy partnership that would extend beyond nuclear to areas including hydrogen, renewables and carbon capture and storage," he added.-TradeArabia News Service