Unit 2 of Barakah Plant successfully starts up on eve of EWD

It is particularly poignant that the milestone has been delivered just a day before Emirati Women’s Day (EWD), with female Emirati nuclear reactor operators joining the crew that successfully initiated start-up for Unit 2, reflecting the leading role that female UAE nationals are playing in the country’s peaceful nuclear energy program and clean electricity transition.

The female nuclear operators are highly qualified in nuclear engineering and are certified and licensed nuclear operators. They join more than 20% of the workforce at the Barakah Plant that are female, one of the highest representation rates for women in the global nuclear energy industry. Thanks to the efforts of Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairwoman of the General Women’s Union (GWU), the ‘Mother of the UAE’, and countless other female Emirati pioneers, Emirati women today are at the forefront of many key sectors in the UAE, supporting economic diversification and sustainable development.

This milestone highlights the Barakah Plant’s role as it continues to contribute to the UAE’s success story, which has been achieved one year after the start-up of Unit 1, and within five months of commercial operations of Unit 1. This highlights the significant progress being made in bringing the four units of the Barakah Plant online, in a safe and timely manner, to quickly decarbonize the UAE’s energy sector.

This key milestone marks the point at which the Barakah Plant has become the region’s first multi-unit operating plant, further powering the nation’s economic growth with more clean, reliable and abundant electricity.

The achievement demonstrates the Nation’s extensive megaproject capabilities in the delivery of the UAE Program, which meets all national regulations & international standards, as well as the skills, qualifications and competencies of the Emirati-led teams at Barakah.

Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said: "We have reached another major milestone in the delivery of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme today, as part of our journey to power the UAE with clean, abundant 24/7 electricity. The Barakah Plant supports the sustainable growth and prosperity of the Nation.”