Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and Nawah Energy Company relocate Headquarters to Masdar City

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and its operating subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company (Nawah), commemorated the move to new headquarters in Masdar City with an inaugural ceremony attended by H.E Eng. Mohamed Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, and employees from across both companies.

The move to Masdar City has a clear synergy for ENEC’s mission and vision to deliver safe, clean and efficient nuclear energy to the UAE. ENEC is committed to powering the future growth and prosperity of the UAE through sustainable energy: a goal that aligns with Masdar City’s purpose and vision.

Following the inaugural ceremony, ENEC’s CEO, H.E. Eng. Mohamed Al Hammadi said: “Since its inception, ENEC has been delivering the UAE’s first nuclear energy plant safely and steadily and we continue to move closer to providing the UAE with clean and sustainable energy, saving up to 12 million tons in carbon emissions every year. Masdar City, and the renewable energy that powers its facilities, are other examples of how the UAE continues to pursue clean and sustainable forms of energy following the leadership’s innovative decision to diversify the nation’s supply.”

“Masdar City holds many opportunities beyond its great facilities as we continue to grow as a company. The Masdar Institute of Science and Technology lies at the heart of the city and we look forward to working with educators and students to promote opportunities created by the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy program,” added Al Hammadi.

H.E. Eng. Mohammed Sahoo AlSuwaidi, Acting CEO of Nawah, added, “As the recently established operating company for the UAE peaceful nuclear energy program, Nawah will continue to work closely with ENEC, building on the momentum already laid for operational readiness of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. Having our established headquarters with ENEC in Masdar City, strengthens our alliance and shared goal to provide the UAE’s electricity needs with sustainable nuclear energy.”

Masdar City, which broke ground in 2008, is one of the world’s most sustainable urban developments. Located next to Abu Dhabi International Airport, Masdar City also hosts the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology, the world’s first graduate-level university focused on advanced energy and sustainable technologies the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), as well as a growing business community, from multinational companies to dynamic start-up enterprises.

Masdar City is home to the region’s largest cluster of certified high-performance buildings, including the Estidama 4 Pearl development that will house ENEC’s new headquarters. The building, the first to achieve a 4 Pearl rating under Abu Dhabi’s green building standards, uses 64 per cent less energy and consumes 75 percent less water than standard buildings in Abu Dhabi.

Commenting on the relocation of ENEC’s headquarters to Masdar City, Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer of Masdar, said: “As a hub for energy, research and clean-tech companies, Masdar City is delighted to host the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, providing a strong base to support its strategic mandate to deliver safe, secure and reliable energy to the UAE as part of a diversified energy mix, and to further the UAE’s economic diversification. ENEC joins a growing community of public, private and non-profit organisations at Masdar City, and its substantial workforce will contribute to the life and dynamism of the city greatly.”

The construction of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant commenced in 2012 and all four nuclear reactors will be operational in 2020. At its full operational capacity, the facility will deliver up to a quarter of the UAE’s electricity needs and save up to 12 million tons in carbon emissions every year.

The project at Barakah is progressing steadily, Unit 1 is now more than 88 percent complete, Unit 2 is 72 percent complete, Unit 3 is 50 percent complete and Unit 4 is 31 percent complete. Overall, construction of Units 1 to 4 is now more than 65 percent complete. All four units will deliver safe, clean, reliable and efficient nuclear energy to the UAE grid, pending regulatory reviews and licensing.