The UAE’s Nawah Energy Company, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation’s (Enec’s) joint venture nuclear operations and maintenance subsidiary, on 12 July signed a five-year Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) support agreement with Westinghouse Electric Company. The agreement brings the benefit of Westinghouse’s OEM expertise in operational support, maintenance, engineering, outage services, and spare parts capabilities, as well as training opportunities to support this endeavour at the Barakah NPP.

“As the operating and maintenance subsidiary for the Barakah plant, Nawah is focused on achieving operational excellence. The agreement with Westinghouse is strategically important to us because it supports our long-term goal for reliable, sustainable and safe operations,” said Nawah CEO Ali Al Hammadi. “Additionally, it adds specialised services to our capabilities, as we work to ensure we meet all national regulatory requirements and international standards for nuclear operations.”

“We are delighted to continue our relationship with Nawah in this five-year partnership and offer our technological and long-term operation expertise to support nuclear energy growth in the Emirates,” said Tarik Choho, president of Westinghouse EMEA Operating Plant Services Business Unit.

The Barakah Plant, located in the Al Dhafra region of the Emirate of Abu Dhabi will comprise four APR-1400 units built a South Korean consortium led by Korea Electric Power Company (Kepco), which, in 2009, won a $20 billion contract for the Barakah project. Construction of unit 1 began in July 2012, unit 2 in May 2013, unit 3 in September 2014 and unit 4 in September 2015. Unit 3 is now 94% complete, unit 4 is 87% complete and the NPP overall is more than 95% complete. Unit 1 was completed in 2018 and began commercial operation in April.