South Korea's KHNP to operate UAE nuclear plant

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power Co. (KHNP) have signed a deal to operate nuclear reactors in Abu Dhabi, ENEC said in a statement on Sunday.

Under the agreement, South Korea-based KHNP will be responsible for the operations of four advanced power reactor (APR)-1400 nuclear reactors, which are currently under construction in the emirate's Barakah area.

Once completed, the reactors will form part of the UAE's first nuclear power station.

According to reports in South Korean media, the deal is worth approximately $878 million.

To support the operations at the Barakah site, KHNP will send about 400 experts every year until 2030, ENEC said. The experts will be working alongside ENEC’s operating subsidiary Nawah Energy Company.

As per regulations of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), KHNP experts will be required to pass regulatory exams to be licensed to operate and manage APR-1400 technology in the UAE.

The construction of the Barakah plant started in 2012, and is scheduled for completion in 2020. With four reactors online, the facility will deliver up to a quarter of the UAE’s electricity needs and save up to 12 million tons in carbon emissions every year, the ENEC said.

Write to Nadeshda Zareen at nadeshda.zareen@argaamplus.com