Korean President Yoon visits UAE's Balaka nuclear power plant... "More nuclear cooperation" = Korea

South Korean President Yoon Seok-yeol and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Mohammed bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan announced on January 16th (local time) that the Barakah nuclear power plant in the UAE Abu Dhabi-a-LUDA Pura region is being constructed. We visited and inspected the construction status of Unit 4 to commemorate the completion of Unit 3.

In 2009, the Balaka Nuclear Power Plant was South Korea's first overseas nuclear power plant and the first nuclear power plant in the Middle East. Units 1 and 2 are currently in commercial operation, preparations for the operation of Unit 3 have been completed, and construction of Unit 4 is expected to be completed next year. Once fully operational, NPP 4 could supply up to 25% of the UAE's electricity demand.

At the ceremony, President Yoon said, "Two of the planned four reactors are in operation, and the remaining two reactors will start operating soon. The Baraka Nuclear Power Plant is a special strategic partnership between South Korea and the UAE. "Just as 'Team Korea' demonstrated the technological strength and experience of the Korean nuclear power industry, South Korea and the UAE will work together to build on the success of Baraka to build a strong foundation within the UAE. We will create expanded results such as additional nuclear power cooperation and the joint expansion of a third country."

"I hope that this state visit will help the two countries to explore comprehensive and strategic energy cooperation measures beyond nuclear power, including hydrogen, renewable energy, and carbon storage and capture" he added.