The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) has taken a step further with the completion of installation of the condenser at its first nuclear energy plant in Barakah.

Witnessing the latest progress was Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, the UAE’s Minister of International Cooperation and Development, who visited the plants along with Enec’s chief executive officer Mohamed Al Hammadi, senior officials and engineers.

The condenser will play an important role in the generation of electricity, and is a critical component used in all types of power plants, said a statement.

In a nuclear reactor, nuclear fission creates heat, which turns water into steam. The pressure of the steam turns a generator, which produces electricity. The condenser cools the steam back into water, allowing the process to repeat continuously, it said.

It is made up of three sections connected by equalising ducts, with each section measuring 26 m in length and weighing 700,000 kg.

The condenser sections were fabricated in South Korea and shipped to Barakah. Its welding was completed in the Unit 1 Reactor Containment Building, a process which took more than seven months
to complete.

“We are pleased to be progressing safely and on schedule as we work to deliver the UAE’s first nuclear energy plant,” said Al Hammadi.

“The team will now focus on completing the fit out of the condenser, including the installation of the duct sections, water boxes low pressure feedwater heaters and auxiliary systems. The entire process is expected to take more than a year before the condenser is complete.”

THE START DATE

The commercial operations for Unit 1 are scheduled to start in 2017, subject to regulatory approvals. The construction for Barakah Unit 2 is also well under way. The plant will commence commercial operation in 2018, pending regulatory approval.

Enec will apply for an Operating License for Units 1 and 2 in 2015.

The company is also on track to break ground for its third nuclear energy plant later this year, subject to regulatory approvals.

By 2020, the UAE will have four nuclear plants in commercial operations, delivering up to a quarter of the nation’s electricity needs.

Enec has said it is committed to delivering safe, clean, efficient nuclear energy to the UAE; forming strategic partnerships with local and international companies and pursuing investment opportunities to support the growth of the nuclear energy industry in the UAE; partnering with academic institutions to develop the human capital required for the UAE’s nuclear energy industry well into the future, and providing the UAE community with accurate and up-to-date information about the programme in line with the UAE’s commitment to complete operational transparency.