The four Barakah units are being constructed for the Emirates Nuclear Electric Corporation (Enec) by a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Co (Kepco). The prime contract for the project was signed in 2009, and construction of the first unit began in July 2012 with work starting on the subsequent units at roughly yearly intervals. Construction of unit 4 began in September 2014. The plant will be operated by Enec subsidiary Nawah, which is partially owned by Kepco.
Enec chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said he was proud of the unwavering commitment and professionalism shown by the team of Emirati engineers, international experts and Korean partners.
"The installation of the final reactor vessel and steam generators, as per the 2009 Prime Contract, is a great achievement," he said.
Barakah 1 is now over 96% complete, and is awaiting regulatory permission for fuel loading prior to an expected 2018 start-up. Unit 2 is over 85% complete and is also expected to start up next year, with units 3 and 4 now over 75% and 52% complete and expected to start up in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
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