First nuclear generation purchase agreement for UAE

The Abu Dhabi Water and Electric Company has signed the first agreement to purchase electricity generated from the United Arab Emirates' Barakah nuclear power plant, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company announced today.

The Abu Dhabi Water and Electric Company (ADWEC) has signed the first agreement to purchase electricity generated from the United Arab Emirates' Barakah nuclear power plant, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (Enec) announced today.

The agreement was signed on behalf of ADWEC by ADWEA's Abdullah Musleh Al Ahbabi and on behalf of Barakah One by Enec's Khaldoon Al Mubarak (Image: Enec)

The power purchase agreement between Barakah One PJSC, an independent and jointly owned subsidiary of Enec and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco), and ADWEC was signed at a ceremony in Abu Dhabi. It establishes the contractual framework between the entities for the electricity produced at Barakah over the next 60 years.

Enec chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said agreement was "pivotal" for the UAE's energy sector. "[T]oday is another major step towards diversifying the UAE's energy mix and making the nation more energy secure and environmentally sustainable," he said.

Abdullah Musleh Al Ahbabi, chairman of the Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority (ADWEA), signed the agreement on behalf of ADWEC. "The signing of this agreement shows the ongoing transformation of Abu Dhabi’s energy mix. We welcome the addition of safe and sustainable low-carbon nuclear energy to our increasingly diverse power grid," he said.

Four Korean-designed APR-1400 pressurized water reactors are under construction at Barakah and are expected to start up in 2017. All four nuclear units are now over 72% complete.

Barakah One was established by Enec and Kepco in October to represent the commercial and financial interests of the Barakah project. Enec is the majority owner, with 82%, while Kepco holds 18%. Another subsidiary, Nawah - also owned 82% by Enec and 18% by Kepco - will operate and maintain the plant.

Researched and written
by World Nuclear News