DUBAI, May 27 (Xinhua) -- The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation(ENEC) said on Saturday that it received the fuel assemblies required to generate electricity from Unit one (out of four), United Arab Emirates (UAE) state news agency WAM reported.
ENEC said the fuel assemblies are securely stored in Barakah until the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation approves the operating license for Unit one and two.
This move would allow the generation of the first megawatts of emission-free electricity to power the growth of the UAE.
"The transportation was made possible thanks to the cooperation of numerous teams at ENEC and its joint venture partner, the Korea Electric Power Corporation, alongside other government and international stakeholders," said Mohamed Al-Hammadi, CEO of ENEC.
"The fact that all fuel assemblies were transported safely reflects the commitment of all these entities to the highest standards of quality, safety, and security," he added.
The fuel assemblies were transported in accordance with the recommendations of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said the report.
In December 2009, the UAE signed a contract with a South Korean consortium led by Korea Electric Power Company worth 20 billion U.S. dollars to build four nuclear plants.
The total capacity of the four stations, located in the south-west of the UAE capital emirate of Abu Dhabi, reached 80 percent. After the operation of the four plants, scheduled for completion by 2020, the ENEC will provide a quarter of the UAE's low-carbon electricity needs.
The Gulf Arab state, a major oil supplier, aims to save up to 12 million tons in carbon emissions every year through the nuclear plant which will be the first in the Arab world.
