DUBAI: Christer Viktorsson, Director-General of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), has said that the final tests of the fourth reactor at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant are being underway. He expressed his anticipation of commencing the process of connecting and linking the fourth unit to the power grid in a few months in preparation for the full operation of the plant.
Barakah currently has three reactors in full operation, and the fourth reactor is being started. FANR issued the operating license last November, and subsequently, the loading of fresh nuclear fuel began, which has now been completed. The final tests are currently ongoing. “We hope that they will become operational in a few months and begin supplying electricity in a couple of months. This will mark the completion of the entire Barakah project, and we will need to continue our oversight,” he added.
Viktorsson added in statements to the Emirates News Agency (WAM) on the sidelines of the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024
in Dubai, that FANR continues its supervisory operations on the plants. The authority has developed a new approach to regulating nuclear safety in the UAE to license or approve a request to start operating a new nuclear reactor. He emphasised the Authority’s keenness to continuously benefit from all international experiences.
He mentioned that this year’s priority is to ensure the safe operation of the four reactors, which are expected to continuously provide energy 24/7. ‘They will need to stop for refueling. This is a critical period where we conduct inspections. We have 10 inspectors at the power plant conducting continuous surveillance, and they report to the headquarters.’
In the context of participating in the WGS 2024, Viktorsson underscored the importance of the summit in bringing together government leaders, business leaders, experts and academics to enhance teamwork to cover various fields and discuss the needs of governments in the future. He pointed to the participation of FANR in a number of se
ssions and meetings that enhance bilateral discussions between the authority and its counterparts in nuclear supervision and strengthen cooperation with federal and national authorities.
He underpinned the close relations that FANR has with its counterparts in the Republic of Korea as a main supporter of the UAE’s peaceful nuclear programme and innovative nuclear regulatory systems, as well as the depth of strategic relations with the United States of America, as they look forward to cooperating with Japan and China during the current year within their goals of strengthening international relations and exchanging expertise and skills in this field.
In the context of empowering youth skills, Viktorsson outlined FANR’s continuos interest in empowering youth through organising working groups and seminars, adding that ‘for nuclear energy to be safe, it needs sustainability, and it needs qualified human resources.’
Source: Emirates News Agency