ENEC granted approval for additional preparatory work at Barakah site

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has been granted approval by the UAE Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) for additional civil works at the proposed site for the UAE's first nuclear power plants in Barakah, located in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi.

Approval for the additional works has also been provided by The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi (EAD), the Emirate's environmental regulator.

In October 2011, ENEC requested approval to undertake the preparatory work to ensure delivery of the UAE's first power plant safely by 2017. The additional work includes the creation of a smooth, flat surface at the bottom of the excavation using a thin layer of concrete in preparation for the installation of the initial safety concrete, installation of waterproofing material over the leveled concrete, installation of encasement piping and installation of a protective layer of concrete to support installation of reinforcing steel to be performed later.

ENEC is not authorized to pour initial safety concrete until it is granted a Construction License from FANR. ENEC submitted its Construction License Application for Barakah Units 1 and 2 to FANR on December 27, 2010 and the application is currently under review. ENEC's submission also included a Nuclear Environmental Impact Assessment, which requires approval from The Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi.

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