Korean-built No. 4 Barakah reactor in UAE ready for operation

Barakah reactor in UAE [Photo by MK DB]

The No. 4 reactor of the Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates, the final unit, is undergoing preparation for operations as its construction has been completed.

The Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), the primary contractor and the buyer in the Barakah nuclear project, announced Friday that the construction of the final reactor has been completed. Fuel will be loaded into the No. 4 reactor, launching the preparation phase for operations.

The construction of the final unit commenced in July 2015, starting with the building of the concrete foundation. The reactor passed the cold hydrostatic test in May 2020 and the hot functional test in July 2022. It also recently completed test operations, marking the completion of the construction phase, and obtained an operating license from UAE authorities.

The existing three Barakah units have been the reliable source of power around the clock since they started commercial operations in April 2021, March 2022, and February 2023, respectively.

Each of them has a capacity of 1,400 megawatts (MW), meaning that the three units currently in operation have a combined capacity of 4,200 MW.

Once the fourth unit is fully operational, the Barakah nuclear power plant will supply up to 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity demand.

“KEPCO and other participants are fully committed to successfully completing the Barakah project,” KEPCO said, expressing hopes that the Barakah project will serve as a springboard for future nuclear exports.

The Barakah nuclear energy plant, located in Abu Dhabi’s Al Dhafra region, is the first overseas nuclear power plant built by Korea and the first civilian nuclear power plant in the Middle East, making it a significant milestone for both Korea and the UAE.

In January, Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited the construction site of the No. 4 reactor during his trip to the UAE.