UAE's Barakah nuclear plant to begin fuel loading in unit 3

The UAE's Barakah nuclear power plant will begin fuel loading for its third reactor, the country's atomic regulatory said in a statement on June 19, as the OPEC producer diversifies its electricity mix away from hydrocarbons.

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation will deploy inspectors to oversee the fuel loading "to ensure the fuel load and testing processes are completed according to requirements," it said.

On June 17, the FANR granted Nawah Energy Co., the operations and maintenance unit of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp., the license to operate the third of four units at the Barakah nuclear power plant located in the emirate of Abu Dhabi.

FANR expects to start looking at the operating license application for the fourth and final unit in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The UAE, the only Arab country currently producing nuclear energy for power generation, is developing nuclear power as it seeks to reduce its carbon footprint after committing to a net-zero emissions target by 2050, the first country in the Middle East to make such a pledge.

Barakah-1 started commercial operations in April 2021 after reaching 100% capacity in December 2020. ENEC said in March that Barakah-2 had begun commercial operations after being connected to the grid in September 2021.