The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) said it has achieved a significant milestone at Barakah Nuclear Energy plant in Abu Dhabi, UAE, by succesfully completing the construction of a concrete dome for the Unit Two Reactor Containment Building (RCB).

The dome is the final structural component of the vast RCB, which now stands tall at over 70 m high and houses the nuclear reactor, said a statement from Enec.

Enec’s teams worked closely with Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco), Hyundai/Samsung Joint Venture (HSJV) and Seoyong Construction throughout the complex RCB construction process.

The dome, which measures 51.4 m in diameter, 24 m in height and weighs 9,000 tonnes, has been constructed in nine stages, stated the Emirati firm.

According to Enec, this is another major achievement in the development of the UAE’s nuclear energy programme.

The RCBs are a critical structure in the nuclear plant’s defence-in-depth barriers. They are extremely robust in design, with thick concrete walls and heavy reinforcing steel, and rank among the strongest structures in the world.

These are designed to confine and contain radiation, even in the most extreme circumstances, it stated.

"With the completion of the dome for Unit Two, we are proud to have maintained our track record of safety and efficiency," remarked Mohamed Al Hammadi, the chief executive of Enec.

"The construction of nuclear energy plants is immensely complex and not only involves highly technical infrastructure but thousands of people working under the highest standards of safety, security and quality," it added.

The next phase of work on the RCB will involve the installation of the containment post-tensioning system, which is used for pre-stressing the concrete structure, followed by a three-month structural integrity test, said Enec in its statement.

Installation of the reactor coolant system piping, connecting the reactor vessel with the reactor coolant pumps and the steam generators was completed in February.

In addition, all major components of the turbo-benerator, including the moisture separator-reheaters have been delivered to site and installed. Setting and component alignment work is on-going, it stated.

Enec has illustrated its ability and dedication to meeting the commitments of the UAE, as stated in the 2008 “Policy on the Evaluation and Potential Development of Peaceful Nuclear Energy”.

The project at Barakah is progressing steadily, with Unit One now more than 87 per cent ready, while Unit Two is 68 per cent complete, Unit Three (47 per cent) and Unit Four is 29 per cent complete, said Enec in its statement.

Overall, the construction of units One to Four is now more than 62 per cent complete. Pending regulatory approval, the four units in Barakah are scheduled to be delivered by 2020, providing safe, clean, reliable and efficient nuclear energy to the UAE grid, stated the Emirati firm.

Once all the four reactors get completed, the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy programme will provide approximately 25 per cent of the UAE’s electricity needs and save up to 12 million tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year, it added.-TradeArabia News Service