The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and Russian state nuclear corporation Rosatom have renewed a memorandum of understanding establishes a general framework for cooperation on the creation of a nuclear science center in the United Arab Emirates and nuclear plant development and investment.

The MoU, signed in Abu Dhabi on the sidelines of the official visit of Russian president Vladimir Putin to the UAE, also includes plans to cooperate on nuclear fuel cycle management and the training of UAE nationals.

Enec said the MoU is an extension of an agreement originally signed in 2017.

Mr Likhachev said Russia was “very optimistic” about cooperation with the UAE. He said Rosatom and Enec have been working together on the nuclear fuel cycle activities for many years and collaboration can be extended to developing nuclear power projects.

Enec is building four South Korea-supplied APR1400 nuclear plants at Barakah.

In August Enec said overall construction is more than 93% complete.

Unit 1 has been completed and it is undergoing commissioning and testing before regulatory review and receipt of an operating licence from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation. In August, Unit 2 stood at 95% complete, Unit 3 at more than 91% complete and Unit 4 at more than 82% complete.