UAE Cabinet meets at Barakah nuclear plant

ABU DHABI // The UAE’s global leadership aspirations and technological achievements in peaceful nuclear energy were stressed at a Cabinet meeting on Sunday at the Barakah nuclear power plant.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, said that under President Sheikh Khalifa and follow-up of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, the country leads “regional and international efforts in clean and renewable energy”.

“We put our hopes in the generation of youth, armed with knowledge and modern sciences, to lead national initiatives and projects, and manage them,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, according to Wam, the state news agency.

He inspected the plant and toured a simulator training centre accompanied by ministers.

“We are proud of our youth working in the biggest nuclear project of its kind internationally,” Sheikh Mohammed said. “They are the engine for the future’s accomplishments.”

Construction of the Dh89 billion plant in Al Dhafra Region is expected to be completed in 2020, and is already 75 per cent finished. Its four reactors are expected to deliver up to a quarter of the country’s electricity needs.

Sixty per cent of the plant’s management workforce are Emirati and 20 per cent are women, Sheikh Mohammed said.

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