EDF and Nawah in pact to maintain Arab world’s first nuclear plant

Barakah nuclear energy plant is nearing completion. (Supplied)
Updated 23 November 2018
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EDF and Nawah in pact to maintain Arab world’s first nuclear plant

  • The Barakah plant, which is currently preparing for operations of the first of its four 1400 MW units, will be the the first nuclear energy plant in the Arab World
  • The agreement means that EDF will provide Nawah with services in a number of areas including operational safety, radiation protection, fuel-cycle management and environmental monitoring

LONDON: EDF and Nawah Energy Company have signed a long-term service agreement for the UAE’s first nuclear power plant.
Nawah is a unit of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), the company that will operate and maintain the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant that is currently under construction in Abu Dhabi.
The Barakah plant, which is currently preparing for operations of the first of its four 1400 MW units, will be the the first nuclear energy plant in the Arab World.

 

The agreement means that EDF will provide Nawah with services in a number of areas including operational safety, radiation protection, fuel-cycle management and environmental monitoring.
“With this agreement, EDF will be strengthening its position in the UAE’s low-carbon energy sector, thereby reasserting the goal of its CAP 2030 strategy, which is to triple its business volumes outside of Europe by 2030,” said Dominique Miniere, EDF’s senior executive vice president in charge of nuclear and thermal power.
Construction of the Barakah plant began in July 2012 and the overall construction progress for the four units is now more than 90 percent, ENEC said in a statement. The first unit was completed earlier this year.

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Construction of the Barakah plant began in July 2012 and the overall construction progress for the four units is now more than 90 percent.


Saudi Arabia’s industrial output rises 10.4% in November: GASTAT 

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Saudi Arabia’s industrial output rises 10.4% in November: GASTAT 

RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s industrial output rose at its fastest rate in months, climbing 10.4 percent year on year in November, supported by stronger manufacturing activity and higher oil production, official data showed. 

The Industrial Production Index increased to 114.4, up from 103.6 a year earlier, according to the General Authority for Statistics, though the index slipped 0.7 percent from October.

The latest figures highlight continued momentum in the Kingdom’s industrial sector as Saudi Arabia pursues economic diversification under its Vision 2030 agenda.

In its latest report, GASTAT stated: “Preliminary results indicate an increase of 10.4 percent in the IPI in November 2025 compared to the same month of the previous year, supported by the rise in mining and quarrying activity, manufacturing activity and water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities.”  

The sub-index of mining and quarrying activity increased by 12.6 percent year on year in November, supported by Saudi Arabia’s decision to raise oil production to 10.1 million barrels per day, compared to 8.9 million bpd a year earlier. 

Manufacturing activity rose by 8.1 percent compared to November 2024, driven by a 14.5 percent increase in the production of coke and refined petroleum products. The manufacture of chemical products also recorded a 10.9 percent annual rise.

In contrast, the sub-index of electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply declined by 4.3 percent year on year, while water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities rose by 10.2 percent. 

On a month-on-month basis, the overall IPI fell by 0.7 percent in November. 

Mining and quarrying activity rose by 0.5 percent from October, while manufacturing activity edged up by 0.3 percent.

However, electricity, gas, steam, and air conditioning supply recorded a sharp monthly decline of 28.6 percent. Water supply, sewerage and waste management and remediation activities fell by 3.1 percent over the same period. 

Overall, the index of oil activities advanced by 12.9 percent year on year in November, while non-oil activities increased by 4.4 percent. 

Compared to October, oil activities rose by 0.4 percent, while non-oil activities declined by 3.4 percent. 

The IPI measures changes in industrial output based on the International Standard Industrial Classification framework and covers mining, manufacturing, utilities, and waste management sectors.