The head of the United Arab Emirates' nuclear development company told a conference Sunday that his organization has signed $1.7 billion in contracts with local companies so far in its effort to build four reactors at Barakah.
Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi told the Abu Dhabi Quality Forum that more than 1,000 Emirati firms to date have been involved in building the country's first reactors. Among the companies working for ENEC and Korea Electric Power Co., a release listed DESCON Engineering, Bin Asheer, National Marine Dredging Company, the Western Bainoona Group, Emirates Steel and Ducab. Hammadi also highlighted his company's efforts to help suppliers upgrade their systems to achieve ASME nuclear component certification.
Construction on the first two APR-1400 reactors began in 2012 and 2013. According to the World Nuclear Association, ENEC received authorization from regulators in February to prepare for the first structural concrete at the third and fourth units.