UAE authorities launched the second power unit at the Barakah nuclear power plant in the emirate of Abu Dhabi, World Nuclear News reported. The UAE is also the first Arab country to have a nuclear power plant.
The UAE has set a goal of phasing out emissions from fossil fuels by 2050, and the commissioning of the nuclear power plant is an essential step towards achieving this goal, said Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammad bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
The Barakah nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi was built by South Korean specialists from Korea Electric Power Corp. The cost of the project is estimated at $20 billion.
UAE plans to build four power units with a capacity of 1,400 megawatts each at the nuclear power plant. The first power unit was launched in 2021.
The third and fourth power units are 95 and 91 percent complete, respectively, according to local media.
The rulers of the UAE expect that in 2050, nuclear power plants will meet 85 percent of the country’s electricity consumption.