• The UAE has issued an operating licence for the fourth and final unit of its Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. FANR
    The UAE has issued an operating licence for the fourth and final unit of its Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. FANR
  • Unit three of Abu Dhabi's Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant started commercial operations in February. Photo: Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation
    Unit three of Abu Dhabi's Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant started commercial operations in February. Photo: Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation
  • A view of the Barakah nuclear site under construction in 2012.
    A view of the Barakah nuclear site under construction in 2012.
  • Unit 1 being built in 2013 in the Western region of Abu Dhabi.
    Unit 1 being built in 2013 in the Western region of Abu Dhabi.
  • The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation selected a Korean consortium in 2013 to build four APR-1400 reactors. Photo: Enec
    The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation selected a Korean consortium in 2013 to build four APR-1400 reactors. Photo: Enec
  • Kristine Svinicki, head of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, toured the Barakah site in November 2013. Photo: Enec
    Kristine Svinicki, head of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, toured the Barakah site in November 2013. Photo: Enec
  • By August 2014, more than 55 per cent of construction at Unit 1 had been completed. Photo: Enec
    By August 2014, more than 55 per cent of construction at Unit 1 had been completed. Photo: Enec
  • The first nuclear reactor at Barakah in 2016. Christopher Pike / The National
    The first nuclear reactor at Barakah in 2016. Christopher Pike / The National
  • The UAE's nuclear energy programme is based in Barakah in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. Photo: Enec
    The UAE's nuclear energy programme is based in Barakah in the Western Region of Abu Dhabi. Photo: Enec
  • Trainees learn to deal with potentially catastrophic scenarios at this simulator in Barakah. Christopher Pike / The National
    Trainees learn to deal with potentially catastrophic scenarios at this simulator in Barakah. Christopher Pike / The National
  • Khalid Naqbi was part of the first batch of resident inspectors sent to the construction site by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation. Ravindranath K / The National
    Khalid Naqbi was part of the first batch of resident inspectors sent to the construction site by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation. Ravindranath K / The National

Barakah nuclear plant to test sirens on Wednesday morning


Sarah Forster
  • English
  • Arabic

The Barakah nuclear power plant located in Al Dhafra region of Abu Dhabi will test its sirens at 10 o'clock on Wednesday morning.

The Nawah Energy Company said in a tweet on Tuesday that the alarm will sound for three minutes before an audio announcement will say: “This is a test. This is a test.”

Meanwhile, work on loading fuel into Barakah nuclear power plant's third reactor has begun, in the latest step towards full operational status.

A licence was granted on June 17 by the nuclear regulator for the third of four reactors, or units, as they are known.

The first two are already operational and provide clean energy to the national grid for homes and businesses.

When fully operational, the plant will prevent 22.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions every year.

When it begins to operate at full power within the coming months, the third unit will add 1,400 megawatts of zero-carbon emission electricity to the grid. This is similar to each of the other two reactor units, taking the country towards its goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.

Barakah has four APR-1400 Units. Unit four is in the final commissioning stages before construction is complete.

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog

Name: Dr Lalia Al Helaly 

Education: PhD in Sociology from Cairo

Favourite authors: Elif Shafaq and Nizar Qabbani.

Favourite music: classical Arabic music such as Um Khalthoum and Abdul Wahab,

She loves the beach and advises her clients to go for meditation.

The biog

Favourite films: Casablanca and Lawrence of Arabia

Favourite books: Start with Why by Simon Sinek and Good to be Great by Jim Collins

Favourite dish: Grilled fish

Inspiration: Sheikh Zayed's visionary leadership taught me to embrace new challenges.

Updated: June 29, 2022, 5:07 AM