ENEC to Host Open Public Forums in Abu Dhabi and Silla

14.12.14

Senior management will give attendees the latest project updates for the UAE’s first nuclear plant

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) will hold a public forum on 16 December in Silla in the Western Region and another one on 17 December in Abu Dhabi. The public forums are held as part of ENEC’s ongoing commitment to community engagement which focuses on education and awareness of nuclear energy as the company develops the nation’s first nuclear power plant under the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy program.

ENEC’s CEO, Mohamed Al Hammadi, as well as members of the senior leadership team, will present the latest project updates and next steps to attendees, who will include residents from the Western Region and Abu Dhabi as well as other interested stakeholders.

“ENEC is building the UAE’s first nuclear power plant to the highest standards of safety, efficiency and operational excellence,” said H.E. Mohamed Al Hammadi, ENEC’s Chief Executive Officer. “An important part of the project is our communications and outreach program where we inform and educate UAE residents about nuclear energy, and how it will play an important part in the growth of the country’s economic development.”

“Nuclear power will contribute a vital amount of energy to power the growth of industries and business and provide highly-skilled local jobs for the long-term benefit of the nation,” he continued.

ENEC has already been active in supporting local cultural and recreation facilities and has hosted more than 16 community forums which were attended by more than 6000 people in most UAE cities such as Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Ras Al Khaima, Madinat Zayed, and Ruwais in the Western Region. The goal is to raise awareness on nuclear energy in the UAE for local residents, build trust with the public and stakeholders and correct misconceptions about nuclear energy. The forums are a key part of ENEC’s commitment to transparency to UAE citizens.

The CEO will be joined by Ahmed Al Mazrouei, Deputy CEO of Barakah One; Fahad Al Qahtani, Group External Affairs Director; Ahmed Al Tenaiji, Employee Relations Manager, Ali Al Mansoori, Safety Analysis Engineer and Maryam Qasem, Safety Analysis Engineer. The forums will be conducted in Arabic in Silla and Arabic with English translation in Abu Dhabi, as part of the organization’s continued outreach program.

The forum is open to all residents and provides an interactive and open platform where public can learn about how a nuclear power plant works and key updates from the program. The forums also include open Q&A sessions where attendees can raise questions directly with Emirati experts and receive direct responses.

ENEC will discuss topics such as radiation, the efficiency of nuclear energy, and training and development of local talent through its Energy Nuclear Pioneers Program.

ENEC has made significant progress since its inception, with Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant now more than 60% complete and on schedule to deliver safe, clean, reliable and efficient nuclear energy to the UAE grid by 2017. By using a pool of the best international nuclear energy experts, ENEC is setting a benchmark for energy security and sustainability in the first project of its kind in the Middle East.

The four nuclear reactors being developed by ENEC will provide approximately 25% of the UAE’s electricity needs, saving up to 12 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions each year.