Major pre-operational test completed on UAE nuclear plant's Unit 4

A major pre-operational test has been completed on Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant's Unit 4.

During the Hot Functional Testing (HFT), the reactor's components were checked for thermal expansion and vibration.

The results showed that all systems performed in line with quality and safety standards.

The testing process, which took place over several weeks, included nearly 200 individual and integrated tests performed on major systems to check their performance under normal operational conditions, without the presence of nuclear fuel in the reactor.

Prior to the HFT tests, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) completed the Structural Integrity Test (SIT) and Integrated Leak Rate Test (ILRT) at Unit 4.

The completion of the checks demonstrated the integrity and robustness of the building structure, and its ability to perform safely under normal and extraordinary circumstances.

"These tests are key steps towards demonstrating Unit 4's readiness to operate and bring us closer to having four units online to provide abundant, clean and reliable electricity, advancing the UAE's clean energy transition and boosting energy security for the next 60 years," said Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of ENEC.

Construction of Unit 4 began in September 2015, three years after Unit 1, and has progressed safely and steadily ever since.

ENEC continues to demonstrate the benefits of building four identical reactors simultaneously with the cumulative knowledge and expertise developed by the team used to complete construction on the later units with greater efficiency.

Once fully operational, all four Units of the plant will produce up to 25 per cent of the UAE's electricity needs and will prevent 22.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

This is equivalent to 4.8 million passenger cars driven for one year, highlighting the leading role nuclear energy plays in accelerating the decarbonisation of the UAE's power sector in order to achieve Net Zero by 2050.