Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba Statement on Barakah Plant Unit 1 Commercial Operations

"The start of commercial operations at Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant is a significant achievement, as the UAE becomes the first country in the Middle East to operate zero carbon nuclear power. Climate change is an international challenge and the UAE is committed to vigorously tackling this crisis by diversifying its energy mix and reducing carbon emissions 23.5 percent by 2030. Developing a clean and green nuclear energy sector is a key component of that effort.

Over twelve years ago, this historic process began when the U.S. and UAE signed a history-making bilateral civil nuclear cooperation agreement. The UAE voluntarily made the strongest possible nonproliferation commitments, forgoing domestic enrichment and reprocessing of nuclear material. The landmark US-UAE 123 Agreement remains a model for the development of a peaceful and safe civilian nuclear energy program in the Middle East."

Ambassador Yousef Al Otaiba