Construction started on a fourth unit at the Barakah
nuclear power project in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. (ENEC) said it began
regulated construction activity related to the
reactor, containment building and supporting structures
for Unit 4, the fourth identical reactor simultaneously
under construction on one site. The Federal Authority of
Nuclear Regulation (FANR) approved the construction licenses
for units 3 and 4 in September 2014. With four identical
reactors underway, the Barakah plant surpasses nuclear build
sites in China, the U.S., the UK, Russia and other
countries.
Construction of the containment building will be completed
over the next three years. Unit 4 is slated to begin
operations in 2020 following completion of the first three
reactors. ENEC must apply for a separate operating license
before plant operations can begin.
Unit 1 is currently 75 percent complete, and all four units
are more than 50 percent complete.