President Yoon Suk Yeol and his United Arab Emirates counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, front row fourth from right, pose for a photo during their visit to the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi, Monday (local time). Yonhap

Korean president also advances cooperation in carbon neutrality

By Nam Hyun-woo

ABU DHABI ― President Yoon Suk Yeol and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan visited the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Abu Dhabi, Monday, which has become the symbol of the two countries' partnership.

"The Barakah Nuclear Power Plant has a symbolic meaning representing the special strategic partnership between Korea and the UAE," Yoon said. "As Team Korea showcased the country's capabilities in the nuclear power industry, now is the time for both Korea and the UAE to join hands to create additional nuclear power partnerships in the UAE and other countries, with the success of the Barakah plant."

The UAE president said, "Workers from the UAE, Korea and other countries have made efforts to complete the third reactor of the plant." He added that he is "proud of the plant which will enhance the UAE's clean energy portfolio and suggest a global standard in nuclear power projects."

Along with the two presidents, the UAE's Deputy Prime Minister Mansour bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan also participated in the event.

Yoon's visit to the Barakah plant came a day after the UAE announced $30 billion worth of investments in Korea, which the UAE leader said is "an expression of trust in Korea, which keeps its promise under any circumstance," referring to the Barakah plant.

The Barakah plant is the first nuclear power station that Korea built overseas. It is also the first nuclear power plant built in the Middle East.

In 2009, Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) and the UAE's Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. signed an $18.6 billion deal to construct the plant, which houses four Korea-developed ARP-1400 reactors.

KEPCO was the main service provider, while Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (KHNP), Doosan Enerbility, Hyundai E&C, Samsung C&T and a number of other Korean firms also participated in the project, which was constructed within the promised budget and deadlines. As a result, the power plant is also known as the "miracle in the desert."

Two of the reactors are now in commercial operation. The third one is set to be operational soon, while the fourth one will be completed within next year.