Khaleej Times, Monday, May 08, 2023 | Shawwal 18, 1444
UAE signs nuclear energy cooperation agreements with China bodies
Emirates:
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), the body
responsible for developing the United Arab Emirates' nuclear energy sector, has
signed three agreements with Chinese nuclear energy organisations as it looks to
boost low-carbon nuclear power.
The UAE, which is hosting the COP28 climate summit this year and wants to get 6
per cent of its energy needs from nuclear as part of its 2050 net zero plan, has
previously said China would be a key partner in its energy transition plan.
The three Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) cover cooperation in nuclear energy
operations, in high temperature gas-cooled reactors, and in nuclear fuel supply
and investment, ENEC said on Sunday.
They were signed with China's Nuclear Power Operations Research Institute, the
China National Nuclear Corporation Overseas, and the China Nuclear Energy
Industry Corporation.
The UAE is already building the Arab world's first multi-unit operating nuclear
energy plant, the Barakah plant in Abu Dhabi.
When completed Barakah will have four reactors with 5,600 megawatts (MW) of
total capacity - equivalent to around 25 per cent of the UAE's peak demand.