Nawah enters key phase of UAE nuclear plant ops

Nawah Energy Company (Nawah), the operator of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, located in the Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi, has entered the next phase of preparation for nuclear operations.

With the recent construction of Unit 1 by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) and joint venture partner, the Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco), Nawah has completed a comprehensive operational readiness review to generate an updated schedule for the start-up of the first peaceful nuclear energy reactor in the Arab world.

The results of Nawah’s review forecast that the loading of nuclear fuel assemblies required to commence nuclear operations at Barakah Unit 1 will occur between the end of 2019 and early 2020, said a statement from Nawah.

The schedule review was carried out in strict accordance with the principles of a healthy nuclear safety culture, which requires conservative decision-making to support nuclear safety.

Consequently, the resulting projection for the start-up of Unit 1 operations reflects the time required for the plant’s nuclear operators to complete operational readiness activities and to obtain necessary regulatory approvals, all of which are all designed to ensure safe, sustainable nuclear operations after start-up, said the statement.

The review, which was led by Nawah’s team of nuclear experts, as well as the participation of Enec, and international nuclear experts, reflects a conservative approach intended to ensure that the highest standards of nuclear quality, safety and security are, firmly established as the foundation for future nuclear operations in the UAE.

Only after all preparations for nuclear operations are successfully completed and Nawah has received an operating licence for Unit 1 from FANR, will operators begin to load nuclear fuel assemblies and initiate operations, it stated.

CEO Mark Reddemann said Nawah’s commitment to meet the highest standards of quality and safety was the main driver for all its work.

“As a result, our review relied on global nuclear standards to analyse the remaining work required for nuclear operations, and we are confident that this new projection for Fuel Load gives Nawah a nuclear-centric and conservative schedule to deliver nuclear operations in alignment with the highest standards of safety and quality,” he noted.

On the unique nature of the Barakah Plant, Reddemann said: "Unit 1 is the pioneering nuclear energy reactor in the UAE and will set the benchmark for the three remaining units of the Barakah Plant and, possibly, for other nuclear energy projects in the Arab world."

"By achieving high standards in Unit 1, Nawah is setting a robust precedent for the subsequent operation of Units 2, 3 and 4, as well as for the regional industry," he added.

Source: tradearabia.com