Former FANR director of nuclear safety stressed the importance of having a builder with the right expertise and a mature supply chain.
A nuclear expert has revealed that clear government policy leadership, effective program management, and proper builder selection are three major factors allowing the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to successfully build a nuclear power plant from scratch in over a decade.
In 2009, the UAE launched an ambitious program to build the Arab world’s first nuclear power plant. At the time, the country had no nuclear expertise.
Following the bidding process, the UAE chose a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation to construct the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, a power station with four APR-1400 nuclear reactors in the Gharbiya region.
Construction started in 2012, with the first reactor completed in late 2018 and went into service in 2020.
The project was finally completed in September this year when the fourth reactor entered commercial operation.
At present, Barakah supplies around 25 percent of the UAE’s electricity needs.
How the UAE Built Nuclear Power Plant
At a recent inquiry hearing on nuclear power, Ian Grant, an energy consultant who played a leading role in establishing the UAE’s nuclear regulatory framework, explained the project’s development process.
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Grant was the director of nuclear safety and later the deputy director general for operations at the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) between 2009 and 2018.
He said the country first established a nuclear regulatory body, the FANR, to develop nuclear policies that complied with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) requirements.
“In that time, the regulatory body had pulled itself together from scratch: developed, recruited experts, placed contracts for technical support, and had to organise its internal affairs to be ready to review that construction license and their plans in a much better position,” he told the Select Committee on Nuclear Energy.
It took a little over two years from FANR publishing its nuclear policies to the project operator getting the first construction licence.
When questioned by a member of the Committee about whether the FANR cut corners during the process, the nuclear expert said there was “absolutely” no such thing.
“We based our regulations on the IAEA standards for the power reactors and implemented a rigorous regulatory program of licensing and inspection,” he said.
“The UAE regulatory framework was subject to numerous peer reviews by the IAEA in which international reviewers came to review the work that was being done, [and] the standards being applied. And these reports are available to read through public websites.”
Grant also noted that the UAE authorities maintained an open and transparent policy when engaging with local communities about the project.
The sign and logo of the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) in Abu Dhabi, the UAE, on Aug. 10, 2017. Karim Sahib/AFP via Getty Images
Nuclear Power Plant Construction
Grant said the Korean contractor built the power plant with their own team, local workers, suppliers, and the Korean supply chain.
“The construction work at Barak proceeded under a formal health and safety program under the oversight of the local regulator,” he said.
Grant said safety standards were high, and the Korean contractor and project operator worked hard to instil a safety culture.
Workers were also given equipment that ensured their safety and helped them cope with the harsh conditions of the desert.
“They had medical centres, recreational facilities, restaurants, cafeterias and accommodation on the site, and they worked under strict standards of health and safety with equipment and supervision that enabled the work to be carried out safely,” he said.
“I believe that the workforce was well cared for.”
In addition, Grant attributed the quick construction progress to the ability of the Korean contractor.
“I would say the keys to rapid progress in the UAE’s [project is] clear government policy leadership combined with very effective program management, and most importantly, the selection of a supplier with experience [and] a mature supply chain,” he said.
A member of the Committee asked the nuclear expert whether Australia could build a nuclear power plant that quickly, given the difference in the workforce between the two countries—Australia has a highly unionised workforce.
Grant said that while he did not know much about Australia’s labour situation, he thought there would be no difference between the UAE’s and Australia’s ability to carry out large projects.
Nuclear Experts Confident in Australia’s Ability
Grant told the Committee that Australia had advantages over the UAE regarding nuclear construction as the latter had to start everything from scratch.
“You have an existing regulatory body. You have a regulatory framework, staff who are familiar with regulating radiation sources of nuclear reactors, and a basic experience that would serve you well in the event that you decide to proceed with such a program,” he said.
Grant’s remarks were echoed by Robert Ion, a nuclear consultant who has worked with Canada’s largest nuclear science and technology laboratory—Atomic Energy of Canada Ltd—for 15 years.
Ion explained that the requirements for a large nuclear power plant reactor were 90 percent similar to those of Australia’s only nuclear reactor, Opal, which is currently used for research and medical purposes.
As such, it would not be a big step for Australia to develop a nuclear power station by adopting the IAEA’s standards.
Using the UAE as an example, Grant said it was reasonable for Australia to take 10–12 years to implement a nuclear program, from the time of a policy decision to the generation of the first nuclear electricity.
