Fueling the Barakah Plant
A nuclear energy plant works much like any other power station that generates which is known as baseload electricity – electricity that can be despatched 24/7 to meet peak power demand. It uses heat and steam to generate electricity. The main difference is the type of fuel used to produce the heat. Most dispatchable power plants use fossil fuels such as coal, oil or natural gas. Nuclear energy plants use uranium as fuel.
Because nuclear energy plants use uranium, which through a process called fission generates heat, no carbon emissions are generated as the fuel is not burnt, which releases heat and greenhouse gases, including carbon dioxide.
A significant aspect of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program and the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is the procurement, transportation and nuclear fuel.
The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and its operating and maintenance subsidiary, ENEC Operations, are committed to upholding the highest standards for quality and safety in the process of transporting, handling and storing nuclear fuel.
This commitment also guides how we manage fresh and used nuclear fuel in the UAE. Our processes are based on best practices and the operating experience of the global nuclear energy industry, and are overseen by the UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR).