The UAE said Wednesday (July 4th) that its first nuclear reactor would come online in late 2019 or early 2020, further delaying the launch of the Arab World's first atomic power station, AFP reported.
Construction of the first of four reactors at the $20 billion Barakah plant has been completed ahead of "operation by the end of 2019 (or) early 2020", Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) said, quoted by WAM news agency.
The first reactor had been due to come online last year, but the launch was initially delayed until 2018 to make time for regulatory approvals and complete safety checks.
No reason was immediately given for the latest postponement.
State-owned ENEC said a second reactor was 93% complete, a third is 83% finished and the fourth was 72% complete.
The nuclear plant west of Abu Dhabi is being built by a consortium led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation.
When fully operational, the four reactors should produce 5,600 megawatts of electricity, around 25% of the UAE's needs, according to the energy ministry.
Nuclear and renewables are targeted to contribute around 27% of the UAE's electricity by 2021.
The UAE says it wants 50% of its energy to be generated by clean sources by 2050.
