UAE announced on Monday completing the construction of the first of four Barakah nuclear power reactors. Following this step, UAE has become the first Arab country to deliver a commercial nuclear plant to the highest standards of safety, quality and security, as well as the first nuclear newcomer since 1985. The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, which is overseeing the nuclear program, is awaiting the approval of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, FANR, to start operating. The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is the largest nuclear energy new build project in the world, with four APR1400 units under simultaneous construction. When fully operational, the four reactors will produce 5,600 megawatts of electricity. The second reactor is 92 percent complete, the third is 81 percent while the fourth is 66 percent completed, and the construction of the Barakah plant as a whole is now 86 percent complete. Once the four reactors start operating, the facility will deliver clean, efficient and reliable electricity to the UAE grid for decades to come, providing around 25 percent of the countrys electricity requirements and saving up to 21 million tonnes of carbon emissions annually. The construction of the first plant was announced at a ceremony held Monday in Dhafra region in Abu Dhabi and was attended by Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and President Moon Jae-in of South Korea. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan said that the completion of the construction of the first plant is a historic achievement for the UAE and contributes to the consolidation of its position on the international map, citing that the UAE peaceful nuclear program plays a pivotal role in supporting growth, diversifying the economy and ensuring a secure future for the coming generations. “Today is a historic day for the UAE’s energy sector. We are moving ahead with completing one of the most important strategic projects in the country,” Sheikh Mohammed said. Sheikh Mohammad said that the UAE and South Korea are ambitious countries with a converging vision and an exceptional, model relationship, adding that both nations have a productive partnership that serves their higher interests and will receive all forms of support to grow even stronger during the coming phase, which will benefit the peoples of both countries. This latest accomplishment is the result of the close collaborative relationship between the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and its prime contractor and joint venture partner, the Korea Electric Power Corporation, KEPCO. While adhering to the highest standards of safety and quality, ENEC and KEPCO have completed the first plant’s construction in 69 months, in strict adherence to FANR regulations.