UAE Turns to Satellites to Shield Region’s Only Nuclear Plant From Climate Risks
The United Arab Emirates, which operates the Gulf’s only commercial
nuclear power station, is for the first time taking special measures to
protect the project from the devastating impact of climate change. Since
September, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation and the Mohammed
Bin Rashid Space Centre have been monitoring climate and the environment
around the Barakah plant from space, officials from the regulatory body
said in Abu Dhabi. They have been collecting information on sea levels,
land and water temperatures, earthquakes and other threats, and assessing
their severity and potential impact.
Bloomberg 4th Feb 2025, https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-02-04/uae-turns-to-satellites-to-shield-region-s-only-nuclear-plant-from-climate-risks
UAE’s nuclear company seeks to capitalise on AI-induced energy demand in US
Enec’s CEO says it plans to expand overseas after rapid growth in its home market
Malcolm Moore in Abu Dhabi, Ft.com 26 Jan 25
The United Arab Emirates wants to build and consult on nuclear projects around the world, with the US as the fastest-growing market, the head of the country’s state-owned nuclear company has said.
Emirates Nuclear Energy Company has become a major player since it was established in 2009. It completed the four reactors of its Barakah nuclear power plant, the first in the Arab world, in under 12 years, and on budget. The project was developed in partnership with Korea Electric Power Corp.
The company, known as Enec, has built up investment and research and development teams to explore opportunities beyond the UAE, chief executive Mohamed Al Hammadi told the Financial Times. AI is set to drive a surge in demand for electricity to power data centres.
………………………………………………………Enec has been in discussions to invest in the UK’s Sizewell C project but Al Hammadi declined to comment on whether the company would proceed, only saying that negotiations had “been going through different cycles in the last year”.
The UK has pushed back the final investment decision on Sizewell, which was expected last year, to after the next government spending review expected in the spring, while the estimated cost of the project has doubled from less than five years ago.
Al Hammadi suggested that the US is seeing the fastest growth in demand for nuclear power because of the boom in AI computing. …………………………………………………………………………………. https://www.ft.com/content/f949780a-3eb2-44f2-9db1-f69ce16161b7
Starmer to court UAE for British nuclear power investment
The Prime Minister is expected to tell sovereign wealth fund bosses ‘you can trust us’ on Sizewell C
Matt Oliver, Industry Editor,
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/12/07/starmer-to-court-uae-for-sizewell-c-nuclear-investment/
Sir Keir Starmer will court the powerful bosses of United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) sovereign wealth funds this week as he seeks to raise funding for the Sizewell C nuclear project.
On a tour of the Gulf, the Prime Minister is expected to court investment into British infrastructure, including the proposed nuclear power plant on the coast of Suffolk.
His visit will include a meeting with representatives from Mubadala, one of Abu Dhabi’s sovereign wealth funds, sources told The Telegraph.
Those present are expected to include Khaldoon Al Mubarak, Mubadala’s chief executive and the right-hand man to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the UAE vice president and Manchester City football club owner.
A source said the message would be “you can trust us”, amid concerns about the long-term commitment of successive UK administrations both to nuclear power and major infrastructure schemes.
Downing Street declined to comment. Mubadala was approached for comment.
It comes as the Government seeks to get more investors on board with Sizewell C, after a capital raise process that has dragged on longer than originally anticipated.
Five potential backers are still in the running officially, the boss of Sizewell C confirmed on Thursday.
They are thought to include British Gas owner Centrica, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec), Schroders Greencoat and Amber Infrastructure Group.
However, sources familiar with the situation said the Government hoped additional investors may contribute cash by teaming up with those already involved in the process.
Mubadala may channel funds into Sizewell via Enec, for example. The UAE companies have teamed up to invest in numerous other global projects in the past, one industry insider said.
Ministers previously hoped to take a final investment decision on Sizewell C by the end of this year but it was confirmed in the Budget that it would not happen until the spring, with the project’s fate now understood to be tied up with Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s spending review.
A key issue ministers are grappling with is the need to put the full cost of the Sizewell project – which could be anything between £20bn and £40bn – on the public balance sheet, despite the Government’s intention to sell a significant portion of shares in the project to outside investors.
Currently, the Government owns more than 80pc of the equity, with the French state nuclear giant EDF owning the rest.
Hinkley dilemma
Elsewhere, ministers also face a dilemma over the Hinkley Point C plant in Somerset.
The project, which is majority-owned by EDF, is grappling with a £5bn funding shortfall after co-investor China General Nuclear refused to put in more cash.
That followed the Government’s decision to block Chinese involvement in Sizewell C and other future nuclear projects amid national security concerns.
EDF has called on the UK to step in and help support the project, a suggestion that ministers have so far resisted, with Paris said to be reluctant to put more money into the plant. Hinkley is on course to open years late and cost up to £45bn – far more than planned.
The Telegraph revealed in October that Centrica had emerged as a potential white knight investor in Hinkley, as the electricity supplier looks to replace income generated by other British nuclear plants it owns stakes in as they close.
United Arab Emirates in talks to invest in European nuclear power infrastructure
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is exploring opportunities to invest in
nuclear power infrastructure across Europe, including in Britain, Reuters
has reported.
The state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) is
considering becoming a minority investor in several nuclear power assets.
ENEC, which is owned by Abu Dhabi’s investment fund, the Abu Dhabi
Developmental Holding Company, has ambitions to expand its international
footprint by acquiring minority stakes in nuclear projects.
The company has
been in discussions to invest in the UK, specifically in the Sizewell C
nuclear project, which is currently seeking additional private investment
following the exit of a Chinese investor. Alongside Saudi Arabia, the UAE
is looking to diversify its economy beyond oil, while Britain is actively
seeking private investment to support its nuclear energy ambitions.
Power Technology 2nd April 2024
https://www.power-technology.com/news/uae-invest-european-nuclear-infrastructure
United Arab Emirates signals interest in European nuclear energy investments, sources say
ENEC has ambitions of becoming an international nuclear energy company holding minority stakes in nuclear power infrastructure of other nations, without managing or operating them.
A lack of investment, cost overruns and delays have also plagued recent projects.
It could also face political opposition to an investment in such a sensitive area.
29/03/2024 , By Alexander Cornwell and Maha El Dahan, https://uk.investing.com/news/commodities-news/uae-signals-interest-in-european-nuclear-energy-investments-sources-say-3408307
DUBAI (Reuters) – The United Arab Emirates has approached European nations including Britain to gauge their interest in the Middle Eastern state investing in their nuclear power infrastructure, according to three sources familiar with the talks.
As part of its outreach, the UAE has discussed the idea of state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) becoming a minority investor in European nuclear power assets, the sources said. They requested anonymity because the discussions are private.
ENEC has ambitions of becoming an international nuclear energy company holding minority stakes in nuclear power infrastructure of other nations, without managing or operating them, the sources told Reuters.
ENEC, owned by Abu Dhabi’s ADQ, has been holding talks to invest in the United Kingdom, the sources who have been briefed on the discussions added, without elaborating. Cash-rich oil producers United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are seeking to diversify their economies away from fossil fuels. Meanwhile, Britain is looking for additional private investment in the Sizewell C large-scale nuclear project being built by French energy giant EDF (EPA:EDF) in southeast England after buying out a China backer.
The UAE and Britain in December signed a so-called memorandum of understanding on civil nuclear cooperation at the U.N. climate summit in Dubai, where more than 20 countries agreed a pledge to treble nuclear capacity by 2050.
“Sizewell C is a crucial part of the UK’s agenda for new nuclear power, which is central to our plans for achieving a low cost, clean and secure electricity system,” a spokesperson for Britain’s Department for Energy Security and Net Zero told Reuters.
“The commercial structure of the project is subject to ongoing development and commercially sensitive discussions,” the spokesperson said, adding they could not comment further.
As part of “international growth and investment plans, ENEC is working with a multitude of partners to explore collaboration opportunities in both new civil nuclear projects and civil nuclear technologies and related clean energy technologies such as clean hydrogen,” ENEC said in a statement to Reuters.
EDF declined to comment.
The UK and EDF are ‘on track’ to raise 20 billion pounds ($25.2 billion) for Sizewell C by end of year, a UK energy security minister told the Financial Times in January, without naming the investors. UK ministers have been lining up Abu Dhabi investors for Sizewell C, the Times of London reported last year.
The sources told Reuters that, among the proposals, ENEC could also be a partner in the development of new nuclear energy infrastructure in European countries given its relatively recent experience in building a facility.
ENEC oversaw the construction of the UAE’s sole nuclear power plant, which was constructed in Abu Dhabi by Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO), and started commercial operations in 2021.
Several European countries are pushing to expand nuclear – a low-carbon energy source – in an effort to meet ambitious climate goals and develop alternatives to Russian energy supplies.
But European Union states are divided over nuclear energy use, which fell out of favour over safety concerns following Japan’s Fukushima nuclear accident in 2011.
A lack of investment, cost overruns and delays have also plagued recent projects.
ENEC’s backing by a wealthy Gulf state could potentially help overcome investment challenges. However, it could also face political opposition to an investment in such a sensitive area.
Emirati state investments have recently raised concerns in Britain, which has blocked a state-linked acquisition of prominent conservative newspaper the Telegraph.
Britain’s government also determined that a recent investment by UAE state-linked telecommunications company E& posed national security concerns, although approved the deal.
($1 = 0.7925 pounds)
Security concerns as UAE Eyeing Investments in Europe’s Nuclear Energy Sector
By Julianne Geiger – Mar 29, 2024 https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/UAE-Eyeing-Investments-in-Europes-Nuclear-Energy-Sector.html
The United Arab Emirates is considering investments in Europe’s nuclear power segment, approaching several European nations to gauge their receptivity to a collaboration, sources familiar with the talks told Reuters this week.
The UAE has discussed the possibility of its state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) investing in European power assets, including Britain’s, to become a minority owner.
According to Reuters’ sources, ENEC has aspirations of expanding its area of operations, becoming an international nuclear energy company that holds minority stakes in other countries. Its aspirations stop short of wanting to manage or operate those stakes, ending with minority ownership only.
ENEC has been in discussions about such an investment in the United Kingdom, the sources said.For Britain, an investment could mean relief for its massive Sizewell C nuclear project, which it says it has successfully drummed up $25 billion in investments so far, in an effort to complete.
As part of “international growth and investment plans, ENEC is working with a multitude of partners to explore collaboration opportunities in both new civil nuclear projects and civil nuclear technologies and related clean energy technologies such as clean hydrogen,” ENEC told Reuters.
While several European nations are looking to expand their nuclear power footprint to help them reach their ambitious net-zero goals, others are divided on whether nuclear power should be classified as green energy at all.
While Britain appears to need investors for Sizewell C, UAE investors have found themselves out of favor, with Britain’s government blocking a UAE investment for the acquisition of The Telegraph and showing concern over a UAE telecom company investment, saying that it raised national security concerns.
Cop28 president says his firm will keep investing in oil
The president of the Cop28 climate summit will continue with his oil
company’s record investment in oil and gas production, despite
coordinating a global deal to “transition away” from fossil fuels.
Sultan Al Jaber, who is also the chief executive of the United Arab
Emirates’ national oil and gas company, Adnoc, told the Guardian the
company had to satisfy demand for fossil fuels.
Guardian 15th Dec 2023
United Arab Emirates is using COP 28 Climate Summit to promote small nuclear reactor industry, as well as fossil fuel industries
Following the launch of a programme aimed at leveraging its experience in
successfully delivering a nuclear power plant project, the UAE’s Emirates
Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has signed a number of agreements with
small modular reactor and micro-reactor vendors to explore opportunities
for the commercialisation and global deployment of their designs.
World Nuclear News 5th Dec 2023
https://www.world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/ENEC-to-evaluate-deployment-of-SMRs-and-microreact
COP28: UAE planned to use climate talks to make oil deals
By Justin Rowlatt, Climate editor, BBC News 27 Nov 23
The United Arab Emirates planned to use its role as the host of UN climate talks as an opportunity to strike oil and gas deals, the BBC has learned.
Leaked briefing documents reveal plans to discuss fossil fuel deals with 15 nations.
The UN body responsible for the COP28 summit told the BBC hosts were expected to act without bias or self-interest.
The UAE team did not deny using COP28 meetings for business talks, and said “private meetings are private”.
It declined to comment on what was discussed in the meetings and said its work has been focused on “meaningful climate action”.
The documents – obtained by independent journalists at the Centre for Climate Reporting working alongside the BBC – were prepared by the UAE’s COP28 team for meetings with at least 27 foreign governments ahead of the COP28 summit, which starts on 30 November.
They included proposed “talking points”, such as one for China which says Adnoc, the UAE’s state oil company, is “willing to jointly evaluate international LNG [liquefied natural gas] opportunities” in Mozambique, Canada and Australia.
The documents suggest telling a Colombian minister that Adnoc “stands ready” to support Colombia to develop its fossil fuel resources.
There are talking points for 13 other countries, including Germany and Egypt, which suggest telling them Adnoc wants to work with their governments to develop fossil fuel projects………………………………………………….
COP28 is the UN’s latest round of global climate talks. This year it is being hosted by the UAE in Dubai and is due to be attended by 167 world leaders, including the Pope and King Charles III.
These summits are the world’s most important meetings to discuss how to tackle climate change.
The hope is COP28 will help limit the long-term global temperature rise to 1.5C, which the UN’s climate science body says is crucial to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. But that will require drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, it says – a 43% reduction by 2030 from 2019 levels.
As part of the preparations for the conference, the UAE’s COP28 team arranged a series of ministerial meetings with governments from around the world.
The meetings were to be hosted by the president of COP28, Dr Sultan al-Jaber. Each year the host nation appoints a representative to be the COP president.
Meeting representatives of foreign governments is one of the core responsibilities of COP presidents. It is the president’s job to encourage countries to be as ambitious as possible in their efforts to cut emissions.
The leaked briefing documents seen by the BBC were prepared for Dr Jaber – who is also CEO of the UAE’s giant state oil company, Adnoc, and of the state renewables business, Masdar.
United Arab Emirates keen to become an exporter of nuclear reactors and nuclear technology
ABU DHABI, 23rd June, 2023 (WAM) — H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative in Al Dhafra Region, visited Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant to view the latest developments of Unit 4, the final unit at the plant approaching commercial operation, and praised Emirati competencies that contributed to developing nuclear energy sector technologies to export globally.
Sheikh Hamdan was received by Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, Managing Director, and Chief Executive Officer of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC); and Ali Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC’s subsidiary Nawah Energy Company (Nawah); as well as a delegation from ENEC’s senior management.
At the beginning of his visit, Sheikh Hamdan inaugurated the state-of-the-art Nuclear Reactor Operators Training Centre, which will enhance nuclear reactor operators’ expertise, and was briefed on the “Orchid” digital reactor room, which provides advanced maintenance training for engineers without entering the reactor area.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed then toured the simulation training centre, which is one of the largest and most modern simulation training centres in the world. He also heard from Emirati engineers on the Plant’s developments and achievements, the latest of which was the operational readiness preparations for Unit 4, the fourth and final unit at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Abu Dhabi…………………..
https://www.wam.ae/en/details/1395303172381
Fossil fuel lobbyists will have to identify themselves as such in registering for the UN Cop28 climate summit
Fossil fuel lobbyists will have to identify themselves as such in
registering for the UN Cop28 climate summit, making polluting and
carbon-intensive industries more accountable at the annual talks.
The move by the UN to require anyone registering for the summit to declare their
affiliation was heralded as a victory for transparency by campaigners who
have been increasingly concerned at the growing presence of oil and gas
lobbyists at climate talks.
Guardian 15th June 2023
Oil-rich nations dominate COP28 – now offering rich sponsorships, in the effort to silence critics
Emanuele Del Rosso Emanuele is an award-winning Italian political cartoonist. His work is published and distributed internationally.
16 January 2023
UN climate summit organisers wage public relations battle. Marketing drive
for multimillion-dollar sponsorships for UAE-hosted event as critics become
more vocal.
The UAE COP28 has offered sponsorship packages ranging up to
$8.2mn (Dh30mn) for a principal partner to enjoy privileged access in the
controlled “blue zone” where world leaders gather, according to
documents sent to prospective sponsors.
Space in the “green zone”, open
to civil society and small business, is less than $7,000 (Dh25,000).
Expressions of interest for pavilions close this week for the event
starting on November 30.
FT 11th June 2023
https://www.ft.com/content/7b17bc43-f303-4039-a8d5-7e9825604a46
Climate hypocrisy: UAE oil company employees given roles in office hosting Cop28
At least a dozen employees from the United Arab Emirate’s state-owned
oil company have apparently taken up roles with the office of the UAE’s
climate change special envoy, who will host this year’s Cop28 UN climate
summit. The revelation adds to growing concerns over the potential for
blurred lines between the team hosting this year’s crucial summit and the
oil-rich country’s influential fossil fuel industry.
Guardian 3rd Feb 2023
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/feb/03/uae-oil-company-cop28
Drone and missile attacks on UAE’s Barakah nuclear plant
The United Arab Emirates’ only nuclear power plant is “well protected”
against security threats, the regulator said on Wednesday, following a
series of unprecedented drone and missile attacks on the Gulf state.
Yemen’s Iran-aligned Houthis said in 2017 they fired a cruise missile
towards the Barakah plant, a report which the UAE denied. The group has
repeatedly threatened to target critical infrastructure in the UAE.
Reuters 23rd Feb 2022
Already the ”nuclear for climate for COP26 ” deceitful propaganda is underway, with a ”clean energy certificate”
The scheme provides an accreditation system based on internationally recognised standards and lays the foundations for a market for trading renewable and nuclear energy attributes.
Abu Dhabi launches clean energy certificate scheme, WNN, 22 September 2021
The Abu Dhabi Department of Energy (DoE) has issued a regulatory policy for implementing a clean energy certificates scheme it says will cater to a growing appetite among businesses and consumers to contribute to the fight against climate change. The scheme provides an accreditation system based on internationally recognised standards and lays the foundations for a market for trading renewable and nuclear energy attributes.
The Regulatory Policy for Clean Energy Certificates, which was announced by the department on 29 August, is part of its commitment to drive the transition to a sustainable decarbonised energy sector. ……………………….. https://world-nuclear-news.org/Articles/Abu-Dhabi-launches-clean-energy-certificate-scheme
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