Nawah Energy Company, the nuclear operating joint venture company established by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) and Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco), recently celebrated the graduation of 195 students of its scholarship programme.

The students had specialised in nuclear energy as part of the ‘Energy Pioneers’ scholarship programme, said a statement from the organisation.

The graduates successfully completed nuclear science and technology focused courses from various institutions of higher education in the UAE and abroad, including Khalifa University (Abu Dhabi), Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, and Pennsylvania State University, Texas A&M University and North Carolina State University in the US, it said.

Nawah chief executive officer Mark Reddemann, congratulated the students in his speech, and emphasised their responsibility towards building and developing the nuclear energy sector in the UAE for future generations.

Reddemann said: “It is with great pride that we witness the graduation of an outstanding group of energy pioneers, who have demonstrated great diligence, commitment and passion to become future leaders in the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program.”

“In line with the Abu Dhabi Plan, these energy pioneers will play a critical role in supporting operational readiness and safe operations of the four units at Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant for decades to come, and contribute to the social and economic prosperity of the UAE,” he added.

Nawah’s education programmes align with Abu Dhabi Plan and aim to give young UAE Nationals the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, said the statement.

By offering scholarships in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (Stem) subjects and highly technical fields, the Energy Pioneers program has been successful in helping students gain the skills needed to fill highly-skilled, technical positions at Nawah, the company that will operate and maintain the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi.

The Energy Pioneers programme was launched by Enec in 2010 with the aim of developing human capability and ensuring a talented and committed workforce that will lead the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program throughout its construction and operational phases.

Once completed, the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant will operate for at least 60 years, providing high-quality jobs and supporting the development of a knowledge-based economy in the UAE for decades to come.

To date, over 500 UAE Nationals have benefitted from a scholarship through the Energy Pioneers programme. In addition, Nawah currently has approximately 200 young Emiratis in training to become reactor operators and senior reactor operators.

Alongside Nawah’s international experts, they will operate the nuclear reactors at Barakah and will ensure the safe generation of clean, efficient and reliable electricity at each of the four units, it stated. – TradeArabia News Service