MEED reported that plant will have total power capacity of 5,600 MW to 6,000 MW with first reactor planned to come on line in 2017.
Sources said that the UAE plans to build 4 reactors with a capacity of up to 1,500 MW each at the emirate’s first nuclear power plant. The plant will have a total capacity of between 5,600 MW and 6,000 MW depending on the type of technology used.
The government agency plans to have the first reactor producing power in 2017 with the other three coming on line at 18, 24 month intervals. It is the first time that such details of the UAE’s plans to develop its nuclear power sector have come to light.
Sources close to the project said that the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation which is overseeing the development of the sector has divided the contract to build the plant into three parts: the construction of the plant, its operation and the supply of nuclear fuel.
3 groups are vying for the deal. They are a French team of Areva, GdF Suez and Total with the US’ Bechtel Corporation and France’s Vinci; a group of the US’ GE and Japan’s Hitachi and a South Korean team of Korea Electric Power Corporation, Hyundai Engineering & Construction, and Samsung Corporation.
Sources said that Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation will only award the contract once the UAE has signed the 123 Agreement with the US which covers the sharing of nuclear technology.
The US Congress completed its review of the agreement in mid October and the 2 countries must now exchange diplomatic notes verifying that they have fulfilled all the necessary requirements for the deal to go ahead.
Mr Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al Nahyan president of UAE passed legislation the Federal Law Regarding the Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Energy establishing the Federal Authority of Nuclear Regulation to oversee the country’s nuclear power sector.
(Sourced from MEED)
