Official says UAE nuclear plant meets "highest int'l standards"

A senior United Arab Emirates (UAE) official said Thursday that construction of the country's first nuclear power plant is proceeding smoothly and in line with "the highest international standards."

"I am consistently impressed to see the progress at Barakah and how ENEC continues to deliver with the highest international standards of safety, quality and performance at the very forefront of all its activities," Minister of Energy Suhail Al-Mazrouei said in a statement, referring to Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation.

The statement was released following an inspection by Al-Mazrouei of the nuclear power plant at Barakah, in the western region of Abu Dhabi.

ENEC's CEO, Mohamed Al Hammadi, said the company has more than 19,000 employees at Barakah, "working on our mission to connect safe, clean, reliable and efficient nuclear energy to the UAE."

"As our program advances, we assume our role with great pride and responsibility, and as always, safety remains our overriding priority," Hammadi said.

The four units at the plant, now more than 65 percent complete, are expected to provide up to a quarter of the nation's electricity requirements and cut carbon emissions by up to 12 million tons a year, authorities said.

The four nuclear reactors are expected to be connected to the national electricity grid between 2017 and 2020.

"Nuclear energy will play a critical role in the provision of clean and sustainable energy to power the future of the UAE and diversify the nation's energy supply," Al-Mazrouei said.

The UAE aims to to increase its clean energy share to 30 percent by 2030 from a mere one percent presently, the minister said earlier. Endit