ENEC and Hyundai E&C Sign MoU to Advance Global Nuclear Energy Collaboration
28.07.25
- Partnership aims to accelerate clean energy deployment through nuclear innovation
- Supports ENEC’s global strategy to share UAE nuclear expertise and scale civil nuclear deployment
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C) have signed a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Seoul, Republic of Korea, to jointly explore international nuclear energy opportunities. This agreement comes at a time when global momentum for nuclear energy is growing rapidly, as countries pursue clean, secure, and scalable energy solutions to meet surging electricity demand.
The collaboration between ENEC and Hyundai E&C builds on the longstanding strategic partnership between the UAE and the Republic of Korea in the nuclear sector and supports both countries’ shared goals to advancing peaceful nuclear energy in line with IEA and IAEA projections for a significant global scale-up of nuclear capacity by 2030 and 2050 respectively. The MoU provides a comprehensive framework for knowledge sharing, collaborative evaluation of project participation, and assessment of strategic investment opportunities. It includes also the formation of a joint working group to identify areas of mutual interest and support the development of future nuclear energy initiatives.
ENEC is pursuing a new phase of investing in, collaborating with and consulting on both large nuclear reactors in addition to advancing new nuclear technologies both locally and internationally. With the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant fully operational, ENEC is now focused on working with global partners to support the acceleration of nuclear deployment and committed to working with all responsible nations looking to deploy new nuclear or expand their existing fleets, and MOUs with companies such as Hyundai E&C are a clear demonstration of this approach.
Hyundai E&C was the lead contractor in the construction of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, and a proven contributor to the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, which is now recognized as a global benchmark for safe and efficient nuclear development.
This collaboration reflects a broader global shift toward increased investment in nuclear energy technologies. Nuclear energy is gaining renewed momentum as the demand for electricity is rapidly increasing, driven by the exponential growth of AI technologies, hyperscale data centres, and heavy industry, alongside expanding electrification across various sectors. This digital transformation and industrial electrification are placing unprecedented pressure on power grids worldwide, which require innovative solutions in energy generation to meet the surging demand sustainably. Nuclear is now widely seen as one of the few proven options for delivering reliable, low-carbon baseload electricity at scale to power the energy transition.
The MoU demonstrates ENEC’s expanding role in international nuclear partnerships to sustaining momentum in nuclear energy development and shaping the future of nuclear energy by enabling faster, safer and more cost-effective deployment of new nuclear technologies in the UAE and globally. Global nuclear capacity needs to expand by about 15 GW per year on average (just over 3% annual growth) to 2030. According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), nuclear capacity is projected to increase by 15% by 2030. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) provides an even more optimistic outlook, suggesting that nuclear capacity could potentially double by 2050 to meet the growing need for energy security and sustainability worldwide.
The signing follows a series of recent agreements between ENEC and leading global operators, technology developers, and energy companies. These partnerships form an integral part of ENEC’s broader focus on identifying global investment, collaboration and deployment opportunities to support the rapid delivery of civil nuclear energy, driving energy security and sustainability through the provision of clean baseload electricity. As developer and operator of the four-unit of the Barakah Plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE, ENEC has gained significant expertise from the successful deployment of civil nuclear energy to power the UAE’s grid, on time and cost efficiently.
The successful construction of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, earned Hyundai E&C high praise from the global nuclear industry for demonstrating its unique risk management and construction capabilities. As Korea and the UAE deepen their commitment to future cooperation in the energy sector, including nuclear, Hyundai E&C also plans to expand the horizon of their cooperation as a strategic partner, building on the trust and experience developed during the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant project.