Advancement towards Operation of Last Unit of South Korean-Made Nuclear Reactor in UAE

The final unit of the South Korean-built Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has commenced operations, marking a significant milestone towards its commercial operation, as confirmed by South Korea’s state-run utility firm on Friday.

The Unit 4 reactor has successfully started producing heat through nuclear fission for electricity generation in a stable manner. The Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) expects the commercial operation of the unit to kick off in the first half of this year.

This reactor is the last of four nuclear reactors constructed in Barakah, located 270 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi, under a US billion contract awarded to a KEPCO-led consortium back in 2009. Notably, this project represents South Korea’s inaugural export of a domestically produced commercial atomic power plant.

The first unit at the Barakah site began commercial operations in April 2021, followed by the second unit in March 2022 and the third unit in February 2023. The overall plant boasts being the first multi-unit operational nuclear facility in the Arab region, featuring four APR-1400 pressurized water reactors capable of generating up to 1,400 megawatts of clean electricity.

This significant achievement underlines South Korea’s prowess in the nuclear energy sector and solidifies its position as a key player in the global energy market.