UAE Nuclear Energy Plant operator signs agreements with Doosan, KHNP
The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is an important part of UAE’s efforts to diversify its energy resources.
Nawah Energy Company (Nawah) has signed a maintenance service agreement and a separate long-term service maintenance agreement with Doosan Heavy Industries and Construction (DHIC) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Plant (KHNP), respectively for the UAE’s Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant (Barakah NEP).
The agreement with DHIC is for it to provide maintenance services and qualified manpower to support routine and outage maintenance activities across the four 1400 MW APR1400 units at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, according to a statement.
The Barakah NEP, located in the Al Dafra region in Abu Dhabi is expected to provide over 25 per cent of the UAE’s need for electric power, saving up to 21 million tons of carbon emission every year. A subsidiary created by the joint venture between Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco)- Nawah, will operate and maintain the plant.
Commenting on the partnership, Mark Reddemann, CEO of Nawah, said: “DHIC, which has decades of experience in providing high-quality components to the global nuclear industry, is a robust addition to our experienced group of international maintenance service providers, who will support our quality-led operations and maintenance of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant.”
He also added that Nawah is delighted to sign this agreement, which in turn strengthens the relationship between the UAE and South Korea.
DHIC has so far been a significant supplier of major components for the Barakah NEP and has supplied quality nuclear components such as the reactor vessel, steam generator, and turbine and generators on time and within budget, according to the CEO of Nuclear Power Plant Business Group at DHIC, Kiyong Na.
Meanwhile, Nawah sighed a long term maintenance service agreement with the KHNP consortium, which is supported by Korea Plant Service & Engineering (KPS), to provide maintenance services for the same APR1400 reactors. The term of the contract is five years and extendable upon agreement by the KHNP consortium and Nawah.
“KHNP will assign high-level officials and outstanding technical experts to the Barakah plant to support successful maintenance of the Barakah plant,” said Chung Jae-hoon, the president and CEO of KHNP.
He also added that the consortium will spare no efforts to support UAE’s endeavours to build its internal capability for nuclear power plant operation.
