OIL–RICH United Arab Emirates (UAE) trailblazes as the nuclear newcomer country with its first unit connected to the grid on August 19 three decades after China had its first nuclear reactor connected to the grid in 1991.

Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) established in 2009 to plan for the nation’s nuclear power programme had established in partnership with KEPCO, the Korean nuclear reactor supplier a joint venture company Nawah Energy Company to operate and maintain its  Barakah Nuclear Power Plant which will house four units of Generation III+  Nuclear Reactor APR-1400.

Recognising the value and benefits of supporting diversity in its workforce, ENEC and Nawah accords high priority to women to participate in the nation’s Peaceful Nuclear Power Programme. In 2017, Her Excellency, Sheikha Lubna Khalid Al Qasimi, is vice-chairman on the ENEC board of directors. Lady Barbara Judge, former head of the UK Atomic Energy Authority is a member of the International Advisory Board for the development of nuclear energy in the UAE.

About 23% of professionals working at ENEC are women while approximately 10% of employees at the Barakah nuclear energy plant are female. 

ENEC Women in Nuclear (WIN), established in 2014 to support the role of women in the nuclear industry, and Women in Nuclear Global  co-organised the Global Annual Conference, hosted for the first time in the Middle East in Abu Dhabi on November 20-23, 2016 with the theme “Powering Generations”.

More than 400 participants from more than 40 countries attended the conference held in Abu Dhabi

From Malaysia, Sheriffah Noor Khamseah was a panelist for the session “Is #STEM Sufficient for the #Nuclear Industry?”

As part of the programme, a visit to the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant was organised. Panellists and speakers were brought to the plant by helicopter. The helicopter ride took 45 minutes and offered us a breathtaking view of the area and the BNPP site.

Thus the connection of the UAE’s first nuclear power reactor BNPP-1 to the grid on 19 August 2020 brings back very fond memories of our visit to the UAE and in particular to the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant when all four units of the APR-1400 were still under various stages of construction.

We are honoured to have had the opportunity to be part of the UAE’s Peaceful Nuclear Power Programme, albeit a small one through this ENEC WiN’s initiative in partnership with WiN Global hosting the 24th WIN Global Conference in the UAE. – October 14, 2020.

* Sheriffah Noor Khamseah Al-Idid Syed Ahmad Idid is an innovation and nuclear advocate.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.