Emirates Nuclear Energy (ENEC) has begun work on the second nuclear reactor at the proposed $20bn power plant in Barakah, Al Gharbia, UAE.
In July 2012, ENEC secured license from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation of the UAE to construct two nuclear power reactor units at the Barakah plant.
Construction on the first nuclear reactor started in 2012 and is expected to be completed in 2017.
UAE permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and board member of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation Hamad Al Kaabi was quoted by The National as saying that so far this is the most aggressive deployment of a new programme from scratch.
"Given what happened in the past two years with Fukushima and the attention that the global community paid to nuclear safety, to be able during this time to continue not only on the original plan but also adapt lessons learnt as we go on, this in itself is quite an achievement,"Al Kaabi added.
The plant will feature a total of four nuclear energy reactors, which will be constructed by Korea Electric Power by 2020.