FANR issues operating license for Unit 2 of Barakah plant to Nawah Energy Company
Nawah is a subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC)
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) has issued the operating license for Unit 2 of the Barakah nuclear plant to the Nawah Energy Company. The license has an estimated duration of 60 years and authorises Nawah to commission and operate Unit 2 of the nuclear plant.
According to a statement from ENEC, FANR reviewed the 14,000 page operating license application for Units 1 & 2, conducted more than 220 inspections and requested 59 additional pieces of information for Unit 2 on various matters related to reactor design, safety and other issues, to ensure the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant’s complete compliance with all regulatory requirements.
“This is another historic moment for the UAE, being the first Arab country in the region to operate a nuclear power plant and culminating efforts of 13 years in building such a programme. This milestone was achieved due to the UAE’s vision and its leadership to build a peaceful nuclear energy programme to cater for the future needs of energy in the country,” said ambassador Hamad Al Kaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and deputy chairman at FANR.
Nawah will now undertake a period of commissioning to prepare for the commercial operation where FANR will conduct around-the-clock inspections, using its resident inspectors located at the plant, in addition to deploying other inspectors, to ensure the fuel load and power accession processes are completed according to regulatory requirements, the statement noted.
