Nuclear Power

The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant under construction in the UAE. (Photo courtesy of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation)
The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant under construction in the UAE. (Photo courtesy of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation)

 

The Ministry of Trade, Industry & Energy announced that it built the first nuclear reactor in the 1,400 MW atomic power plant under construction in Barakah, UAE on May 20 (local time). The ceremony was attended by President Park Geun-hye and Minister of Trade, Industry & Energy Yoon Sang-jik. 

A consortium of the Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) won the order for four nuclear power stations from the UAE in December 2009 at US$40 billion combined, turning itself into the world’s sixth nuclear power plant exporter. The feat was accomplished in about half a century, since its accession to the IAEA in 1957.

The power stations exported to the UAE at this time are advanced power reactors (APR) 1400, which are the same type as the third and fourth Shigori Plants in Korea. The construction of the first one in the UAE and the other three are scheduled to be completed by 2017 and 2020, respectively. At present, approximately 1,600 Korean workers are staying in the construction sites, and the builder is receiving 200-300 billion won (US$195-293 million) each month according to the progress of the project. The job creation effect is estimated at about 110,000 for 10 years. 

President Park Geun-hye visited the sites in person to better publicize the excellence of Korean nuclear power stations and help boost the exports. She is going to meet with Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, for closer bilateral cooperation, too.

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