ENEC Board Visits UAE Reference Plants in Republic of Korea

08 February 2012

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation’s (ENEC) Board of Directors visited the Republic of Korea this week to receive an update on the construction of two nuclear reactors, Shin Kori 3 and 4, which are the reference plants for the UAE’s first nuclear energy plant.

Chairman of the Board H.E. Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Deputy Chairman H.E. Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, were joined by Board Members Mr. Jasem Mohamed Al Zaabi, Mr. Mohammed Sahoo Al Suwaidi, and Mr. David Scott. Also in attendance was Vice Minister of the Ministry of Knowledge Economy of the Republic of Korea Seok Cho, Executive Vice President Jun Yeon Byun of Korea Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO), President and Chief Executive Officer Jong Shin Kim of Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power Co, a KEPCO subsidiary, and ENEC’s Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Al Hammadi.

The reference plant concept is a fundamental part of ENEC’s construction and operations strategy. It ensures that KEPCO will construct a plant that is essentially the same as the reference plants, but supplemented with changes required to adapt to the specific conditions of the UAE environment and any specific requirements of the UAE’s nuclear energy industry regulator, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation.

The reference plants provide the UAE program with an effective blueprint for licensing, construction and operations, helping ENEC to achieve the highest standards of safety, quality and efficiency.

The Shin Kori units 3 and 4 reference plants are progressing on schedule, with unit 3 scheduled to start operations in 2013. The reactors are being constructed and operated by KEPCO. A Korean team led by KEPCO was awarded the Prime Contract for the UAE nuclear energy program. Under the contract, KEPCO is responsible for the design and construction of the plants, and also to provide support for operations.