The UAE Department of Energy (DoE) recently issued an 'Electricity Generation Licence' to Barakah One Company, the joint venture company owned by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) and the Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco).

The licence is a key regulatory requirement before operation of the Barakah nuclear energy plants in Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi, reported state news agency Wam.

The Electricity Generation Licence from DoE is an important milestone in advance of Nawah, the operating and maintenance subsidiary of Enec and Kepco, obtaining the operating licence from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (Fanr).

The DoE’s assessment and analysis confirmed that Barakah One Company met the requirements necessary to obtain the electricity generation licence, it added.

Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, DoE chairman, said that generating electricity from nuclear energy is one of the best long-term solutions for the production of clean, efficient and reliable power to support UAE’s continued economic growth and diversification.

He expressed his pride in the fact that the UAE is the first country in the Gulf region to have started such an ambitious journey towards the future, adding that the Electricity Generation Licence granted to Barakah One Company is the first of its kind in the region that will ultimately allow it to generate electricity from peaceful nuclear energy.