The UAE launches the world's first nuclear power plant

The UAE launches the world's first nuclear power plant

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has launched the first nuclear power plant among the Arab countries.

The Barakah nuclear power plant is located in the Al Dhafrah area of ​​Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE, on the Gulf coast east of Qatar.

Work has also started on one of the four reactors of the power plant on Saturday. Nuclear fission is going on in the reactor using South Korean technology.

According to the BBC, the power plant was supposed to be commissioned in 2016, but due to security concerns, the process was delayed several times.

The plant was built by Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (KPCO).

The oil-rich UAE wants to meet one-fourth of the country's total demand from the Barakah power plant. Leaders in the United Arab Emirates see the power plant as a symbol of scientific progress.

Just a week ago, the United Arab Emirates sent a spacecraft to Mars. This was the first major scientific expedition to the Gulf countries.

Meanwhile, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) praised the country's move to launch the Barakah power plant as a "significant milestone".

The UAE is also investing heavily in solar power. Some energy experts have questioned the rationale for the Barakah nuclear plant. According to them, solar power is more environmentally friendly, economical, and meaningful for the region, which is plagued by political tensions and terrorism.

Moreover, some countries see the launch of a nuclear power plant in the UAE as a threat to regional peace and the environment. Qatar, the UAE's hostile neighbor, has expressed concern about the Barakah center since last year.

Iran, another enemy of the emirate in the Gulf, is already embroiled in US sanctions over its controversial nuclear program. Now that a nuclear power plant has been set up in the UAE, fears have been raised about the long-term consequences for the region.

Due to the tense geopolitical environment in the Gulf region, the issue of nuclear power there is much more controversial than anywhere else. It is a matter of concern that a country could acquire the capability to build a nuclear weapon as a result of acquiring nuclear power.

Paul Dorfman, a researcher at the Energy Institute at University College London, said: It also increases the risk of damage to the environment and the proliferation of nuclear weapons. ”