ENEC participates in World Nuclear Association Symposium

Through the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, a nation-defining major strategic energy infrastructure project, the UAE is recognised as a global nuclear energy success story, demonstrating that nuclear is an essential climate solution that is having a real impact on the ground today.

Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, featured on the "Nuclear is the engine for sustainable development" panel alongside esteemed nuclear experts including Dr. Sama Bilbao y Leon, Director-General of the World Nuclear Association; Patrick Fragman, Westinghouse Global CEO; Bernard Fontana, Framatome CEO; and Bohdan Zronek, CEZ Chief Nuclear Officer.

Al Hammadi explained how Barakah is already powering a Net Zero economy in the UAE, enabling rapid, large-scale decarbonisation, supporting growth in clean electricity demand and guaranteeing energy security for the Nation.

With two commercially operational Units and two more to come online in the near future, the Barakah Plant is generating clean electricity 24/7 regardless of weather conditions. A study by HIS Markit, part of S&P Global, found that, once fully operational, the Plant will reduce gas consumption by around 440 billion cubic feet per year, worth almost US$4 billion at today’s prices. This directly supports the UAE’s ambitions to become a net gas exporter by 2030. The study also concluded that the Barakah Plant will contribute 25 percent of the UAE’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) for emissions reductions, submitted to COP26 in Glasgow in 2021.

"Around the world, nations are facing an unprecedented energy crisis whilst also battling the impacts of climate change. Our experience has proven that ‘net zero’ nuclear energy is a vital solution for mitigating both challenges at the same time. The UAE’s decision to develop nuclear energy in 2008 is paying dividends now – providing energy security and tackling climate change in parallel, freeing up gas for export to those countries that need it. The UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme and the Barakah Plant have demonstrated how nuclear energy projects can be delivered safely, successfully and competitively to prevent carbon emissions and power our paths to Net Zero", Al Hammadi said.

The WNA Symposium had extra significance this year given global issues around energy supply and the ongoing struggle with energy prices and inflation. At a time when power and natural gas prices have rapidly spiked with ongoing fluctuations, the need for nuclear energy as a stable, reliable and cost-effective energy source has been highlighted around the world. The UAE stands out from the crowd as a success story, sustainably generating abundant electricity to meet growing demand and power growth with a forward-looking, data-led approach to the clean energy transition.

The Barakah Plant is one of the largest nuclear energy plants in the world, with four APR-1400 units. By 2025, the Barakah Plant is forecast to be the largest contributor to cutting Abu Dhabi Emirate’s power and water sector carbon emissions by 50 percent and generating more than 88 percent of Abu Dhabi’s clean electricity.

Barakah is just the beginning, comprising 20 percent of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme. With abundant clean electricity flowing 24/7, ENEC is now focused on exploring and incubating strategic investments in nuclear energy locally and internationally that support the growth and development goals of the UAE.

The knowledge and electricity provided by Barakah is a catalyst for innovation in the clean energy transition, including Small Modular Reactor (SMR) development and next generation reactors, and a bridge to other clean fuels, such as clean hydrogen, offering significant potential to secure the UAE’s continued clean energy leadership.