Nawat Power Company, a subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation which is responsible for operating and maintaining Baraka peaceful nuclear power plants, has announced that it has received a license to operate the first plant from the Federal Nuclear Supervision Authority, the independent authority responsible for regulating the nuclear sector in the United Arab Emirates. Nawat Company has started the procedures for starting the loading of the first nuclear fuel packages in the plant reactor, as a first step for the gradual operational operations leading to the gradual and safe operation and the production of environmentally friendly electric energy later.
The operating license was approved by the Board of Directors of the Federal Nuclear Supervision Authority on February 16, 2020, after a thorough evaluation process and independent and accurate reviews of the operational readiness of Nawat Power Company. The operating license entitles Nawat to operate the first station for a period of 60 years.
In this regard, Mark Redman, CEO of Nawat Power Company said: “Obtaining a license to operate the first station of Baraka Nuclear Energy is a major achievement for the Nawat Energy Company, which has become the latest operator of nuclear plants in this sector globally. We are proud of the success of the company Nawaat fulfills the strict local control requirements locally, in addition to adhering to the highest international safety and quality standards, and we will continue to adhere to these standards during the start-up phase and throughout the life of the station.
"Our teams are trained at the highest level, ready to start operations safely and in full compliance with the regulations of the Federal Nuclear Regulatory Authority, as well as adhere to best practices in the peaceful nuclear energy sector set by the World Association of Nuclear Energy Operators," Redman added.
After the nuclear fuel beams are loaded into the first plant reactor, Nawaat Energy will begin a series of tests completely safely before starting the start of the progressive operation known as the upward energy test, as the reactor operators increase the levels of energy production. During this period, the first station will be completely connected to the electricity network, which will receive the first megawatts from the station. Once these tests are successfully completed, the first leg will begin to commercialize the commercial phase.
It is worth noting that Barakah's peaceful nuclear energy plants constitute the cornerstone of the UAE peaceful nuclear program, which adheres to the highest international standards of safety, security, quality, transparency, and nuclear proliferation. As the company responsible for operating and maintaining Baraka peaceful nuclear power plants, the Nawat Power Company is committed to ensuring that the first plant is operated in Baraka according to regulatory requirements, and in full cooperation with all partners locally, regionally and internationally.