Abu Dhabi: The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the UAE's independent nuclear regulator, has granted Nawah Energy Company the operating licence for Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, making the UAE the first country in the Arab region to operate a nuclear power plant.
The regulatory body has also authorised Nawah to commission and operate Unit 1 of the nuclear power plant located in Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi, under a 60-year licence.
Nawah is the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation’s subsidiary responsible for operation of the nuclear power plant.
The decision to issue the operating licence is a culmination of efforts made by FANR since it received an operating licence application from ENEC, on behalf of Nawah, in 2015.
FANR followed a systematic review process that included a thorough assessment of the application documentation, conducting robust regulatory oversight and inspections.
The assessment included reviewing the plant’s layout design and the analysis of the site’s location in terms of geography and demography.
It also included the reactor design, cooling systems, security arrangements, emergency preparedness, radioactive waste management and other technical aspects.
FANR also assessed Nawah’s organisational and manpower readiness with all the required processes and procedures to ensure the safety and security of nuclear power plant, WAM reported.
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