DUBAI: The start-up of the Arab world’s first nuclear reactor — in theUnited Arab Emirates – has been delayed and should start operations betweenthe end of 2019 and early 2020, the plant’s operator said on Saturday.
Nawah Energy Company, the operator of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant inthe Al-Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi, said it “has completed a comprehensiveoperational readiness review” for an updated start-up schedule for thereactor.
The $24.4 billion Barakah power plant is the world’s largest nuclearproject under construction and will be the first in the Arab world.
“The results of Nawahs review forecast that the loading of nuclear fuelassemblies required to commence nuclear operations at Barakah Unit 1 willoccur between the end of 2019 and early 2020,” it said in a statement.