The construction of unit 1 of the Barakah nuclear power plant (NPP) in the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.) was completed on Monday, according to the World Nuclear Association (WNA).
A ceremony attended by South Korea's President Moon Jae-in and Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan marked the completion of the unit 1 construction at Barakah located on the Persian Gulf coastline.
The Barakah NPP plans to have four reactors with 1,400 megawatts of power capacity, made by Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO). The units are scheduled for completion by 2020.
The four nuclear reactors will supply up to 25 percent of the U.A.E.'s electricity needs and save up to 21 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions every year, according to the WNA.
'This is an important step towards start-up of the first reactor at Barakah. The U.A.E. will soon benefit from the reliable supply of clean electricity that Barakah will produce,' Agneta Rising, director general of WNA was quoted as saying.
'The U.A.E.'s policy of reducing electricity generation from fossil fuels by developing a mix of clean energy technologies that includes a substantial contribution from nuclear energy is one that should be embraced worldwide, including in South Korea,' Rising said.
She added that the use of nuclear energy would help ensure the swiftest and most cost-effective transition to a clean, secure and reliable energy future.
By Huseyin Erdogan
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr