The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation completed several construction milestones on Unit 2 of the upcoming Barakah Nuclear Power Plant (Barakah NPP) in Abu Dhabi.
Some of the major milestones include the completion of the 2,000 tonne containment liner plate for the Reactor Containment Building (RCB) including placement of the upper dome, lifting the pressuriser into place and lifting the roof frame for the Unit 2 main control room.
The plate is a cylindrical steel shell that forms the inner wall, ceiling and floor lining of the reinforced concrete reactor containment building. Its structure measures nearly 60 metres in height (77 metres including dome) and 45 metres in diameter. It has to be constructed in multiple stages and parts, including 19 separate liner rings – each 3 metres in height – to complete the 2,000 tonne structure.
The process has taken 15 months to complete with a team of more than 240 construction workers and supervisors.
The project is part of UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy programme and aims to include four nuclear energy units in Western Region of Abu Dhabi by 2020. Once completed, the reactors will have a combined generating capacity of approximately 5,600MW and will supply nearly one-quarter of electricity demand in the UAE. Barakah Unit 1 is more than 81% complete and Unit 2 is almost 60% complete.
ENEC CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi said: “Each unit’s progression remains scheduled at approximately 12 months apart. This allows our highly skilled workforce to move efficiently and deliberately through their tasks to ensure the safe and timely delivery of the entire project.”