Lead fuel assemblies for the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant successfully fabricated

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) said this marks a significant milestone in the implementation of the fuel supply agreement announced by the two companies in July 2025, which aims to strengthen the UAE’s national energy security through the diversification of nuclear fuel supplies.

The agreement between ENEC and Framatome is a key development in ENEC’s long-term strategy to diversify its fuel supply chain, enhancing energy security by ensuring an uninterrupted source of carbon-free power from the Barakah Plant to businesses, industries and homes across the UAE.

Framatome’s NRC-licensed Richland facility has received the US regulator’s highest Licensee Performance Review rating for 18 consecutive years, drawing on over 40 years’ experience with Combustion Engineering reactor fuel. Over 6,000 assemblies of this type has been supplied.

The lead fuel assemblies will now be delivered as complete nuclear fuel assemblies for testing at the Barakah Plant.

Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, commented: “Our partnership with Framatome is an important component of our wider strategy to ensure a resilient fuel supply for Barakah. Their expertise and manufacturing capabilities align perfectly with ENEC’s commitment to the highest safety and performance standards.

By strengthening Barakah’s fuel supply chain, we are supporting continued operational excellence and always-on power generation at Barakah to power the nation’s leading industries, businesses and, of course, our communities.’’

The first multi-unit nuclear energy plant in the region, Barakah consists of four APR-1400 Pressurised Water Reactor (PWR) units generating a total of 40 TWh of electricity annually. Barakah is now the largest source of clean energy in the region, supplying around 25 per cent of the UAE’s electricity with no emissions. The plant prevents 22.4 million tons of carbon emissions annually, equivalent to removing 4.6 million cars from the roads.

Grégoire Ponchon, CEO of Framatome, added: “This milestone demonstrates the strength of our partnership with ENEC and our shared commitment to supporting the UAE’s clean energy ambitions.

“The successful fabrication of the first lead fuel assemblies is a testament to the dedication and expertise of our teams, and it underscores Framatome’s role as a trusted partner in the global nuclear industry. We look forward to continuing our collaboration with ENEC to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the Barakah Plant.”

A comprehensive testing program will take place prior to commercial use as part of ENEC’s fuel qualification programme, which is designed to rigorously evaluate and verify the safety, compatibility, and performance of the new fuel design under actual operating conditions. Following completion and validation, ENEC will then move forward with the integration of these assemblies, supporting both operational reliability and regulatory compliance.

Framatome will also provide engineering support services from its US headquarters in Lynchburg, Virginia.