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UAE preparing second nuclear power plant, sources state

The United Arab Emirates will tender quickly for the building of a new nuclear power plant that would double the variety of the small Gulf state's. atomic power plants, 3 sources familiar with the matter stated.

The UAE, a U.S. security partner, became the first Arab. state to operate a nuclear power plant when in 2021 it opened in. the South Korean-built Barakah center in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE plans to look for bids this year, possibly within the. next couple of months, to build four brand-new reactors, the sources with. direct knowledge of the matter stated, asking for anonymity to. talk about information that are still private.

The sources said the UAE aims to award the tender and start. building as quickly as this year so that the brand-new plant would be. operational by 2032 in order to satisfy projected energy requirements.

The tender would be open to any potential bidders, consisting of. U.S., Chinese and Russian firms, the sources said, including that. South Korea would not be treated as a preferred bidder.

Asked about plans for a 2nd plant, the Federal Authority. for Nuclear Guideline (FANR) said it was ready to examine and. problem the necessary licences and guidelines that would be. required when and if the government decides to build new plants.

The UAE energy ministry referred to FANR for. comment.

State-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Co (ENEC), which owns. the Barakah nuclear reactor, referred to a public. statement it ran in January mentioning that it was, focused on. checking out chances in the UAE and overseas to optimize the. full value of the know-how developed in nuclear mega task. program delivery and innovation deployment, based on verified. demand, and approvals from the pertinent UAE authorities.

The UAE government media workplace did not instantly respond. when requested for remark.

Russia is a huge player in nuclear reactor building,. together with China which is quickly scaling up its global nuclear. energy ambitions.

If Russia or China were picked as bidders for the UAE. plant this could possibly produce tensions with the U.S.,. which has actually looked for to separate Moscow over the Ukraine invasion and. has become increasingly worried over the Gulf states'. deepening ties with Beijing.

The UAE, which signed a nuclear energy cooperation contract. with the U.S. in 2009, says its nuclear program is serene. and exclusively for energy purposes to reduce its dependence on oil.

It was among the nations that signed an agreement at the. United Nations climate conference kept in Dubai late last year. to triple global nuclear energy output over the next three. years.

Somewhere else in the Middle East, Egypt is developing its first. nuclear plant, built by Russia. Saudi Arabia has aspirations for a. civilian nuclear programme however has refused so far to sign a. cooperation contract with the U.S. that would obstruct the Gulf. state from improving uranium.

The South Korean-built Barakah nuclear power plant, situated. in Abu Dhabi on the coast towards Saudi Arabia and Qatar, is. expected to supply a quarter of the nation's electrical energy.

The fourth and last reactor of the Barakah plant is due to. begin commercial operations this year, bringing the nuclear. power plant to full operating capability.

Places under factor to consider for the brand-new nuclear plant. consist of a seaside website nearer to the border with Saudi Arabia,. sources stated.

It might also be built better to the existing plant at. Barakah, they stated.