Preferred Site

ENEC’s preferred site for the UAE’s nuclear energy plants is located at Braka in the Western Region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, approximately 53 kilometres west-southwest of the city of Ruwais.

Final approval of the proposed site location rests with the UAE Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR). As part of its comprehensive licensing process,  FANR will determine whether or not the site is an appropriate location for the power plants, along with the Environment Agency Abu Dhabi.

Braka was selected based on environmental, technical and commercial factors, following a comprehensive evaluation process led by local and international experts. 

ENEC evaluated 10 sites across the UAE in detail, and then narrowed that group to a set of preferred and alternate sites that were subject to further evaluation. Each of the sites were found to be suitable for construction and operation of nuclear power plants.

The work was based on guidance and standards from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, the Electric Power Research Institute, the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission, and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Contributing factors to site selection included:

• seismic history
• distance from large population centres
• proximity to large supplies of water
• proximity to existing electrical power grid
• proximity to industrial and transportation infrastructure
• favourable construction, security, and evacuation route conditions
• ability to minimise environmental impact

In July 2010, FANR and the Environment Agency approved licenses for preliminary work to begin at Braka.

The Site Preparation License allows ENEC to start the installation of site infrastructure. It also allows construction to begin on areas of the facility that are not part of the nuclear power plants, such as roads, telecommunications networks and site administration buildings.

Meanwhile, the Limited Construction License authorises the manufacture and assembly of components, including reactor pressure vessels, steam generators and coolant pumps important to safety.