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UAE`s nuclear reactor start-up delayed

2018-05-27
DUBAI: The start-up of the Arab world`s first nuclear reactor in the United Arab Emirates has been delayed and should start operations between the end of 2019 and early 2020, the plant`s operator said on Saturday.

Nawah Energy Company, the operator of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the Al-Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi, said it `has completed a comprehensive operational readiness review` for an updated start-up schedule for the reactor.

The $24.4 billion Barakah power plant is the world`s largest nuclear project under construction and will be the first in the Arab world.

`The results of Nawahs review forecast that the loading of nuclear fuel assemblies required to commence nuclear operations at Barakah Unit 1 will occur between the end of 2019 and early 2020,` it said in a statement.

Reuters reported in March that the start-up had been pushed back to 2019 due to training delays.