Barakah plant on course for completion

The first of four power generating units at Barakah Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Al Gharbia is nearing completion. Construction work is 74 per cent complete.
"Construction of the Barakah NPP is now well under way and progressing safely and steadily," said Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, or Enec, on Sunday.
The project will eventually consist of four nuclear power generating units with a combined capacity of approximately 5,600 MW and their associated facilities.
Barakah's unit one is now more than 74 per cent complete, unit two is 51 per cent complete, and construction of the overall programme is more than 48 per cent complete, Enec said.
The first 1,400 MW Unit is scheduled for completion in 2017. Additional units will follow at 12 monthly intervals, with the fourth unit set to commence commercial operations in 2020, pending regulatory reviews and licensing.
Meanwhile, Enec has installed its second training simulator at the organisation's simulator training centre at Barakah.
Enec's first simulator, delivered in April 2014, has also received an upgrade. The upgrade allows the devices to mimic real conditions and future scenarios at the plants.
Developed in conjunction with the Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco), the simulators replicate the actual environment and conditions that the Barakah NPP control room would experience in a real time situation. They also provide students with the opportunity to experience unplanned events that they would otherwise not be exposed to in day-to-day operations.
"Enec is constructing the UAE's first nuclear energy plant to the highest standards of safety, quality and performance. In parallel, we are focused on recruiting, training and mobilising a team of nuclear energy professionals," said Eng. Ahmed Al Rumaithi, ENEC's deputy chief executive officer.
The 7,000 square metre facility houses two digital full scope simulators, identical to the main control room of unit one at Barakah.
­- haseeb@khaleejtimes.com