S. Korean-built nuclear reactor in UAE begins operations

Operations have started at the first unit of the South Korean-built Barakah nuclear power plant in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Dubai's ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum announced via Twitter that nuclear fuel was successfully loaded into the Barakah nuclear plant's first reactor, completed by a South Korean-led consortium in 2018.

The said nuclear reactor was among the four that the consortium committed to building in 2009 for US$20 billion.

The three other reactors are under construction.

The combined output of the Barakah nuclear plant's four reactors is 5,600 megawatts, enough to supply up to 25 percent of the UAE's electricity requirement.

The project was South Korea's first export of its homegrown commercial atomic power technology.

Last year, the South Korean consortium was awarded a five-year maintenance contract for the Barakah nuclear plant.

The deal includes providing maintenance services and an experienced workforce to Nawah Energy Co., the nuclear plant's operator.