Nuclear power likely to generate 12% of UAE's energy needs

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) observed Wednesday the start of construction on the fourth nuclear reactor in the UAE's Al Gharbia region, ENEC said in an e-mailed statement, according to Xinhuanet.

Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) were present at the event.

Mazrouei called the construction progress a "key milestone" near Barakah, 53 kilometers southwest of Ruwais city, in the Al-Gharbia region.

The fourth reactor, is the last of a nuclear reactor block built for peaceful energy purposes.

Built under the direction of Korea's Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) at a total cost of 32 billion US dollars, the first reactor is to produce electricity by 2017.

The fourth reactor under construction today, is scheduled to connect to the UAE's electricity grid by 2020.

According to the UAE Energy Ministry's strategic plan, nuclear power shall produce up to 12 percent of the UAE's - a major oil supplier and member of OPEC - domestic energy needs.

As of today, 99 percent of this need comes from oil and gas.

The four reactors are expected to generate electricity for 60 years, according to KEPCO.

The UAE's progress in nuclear energy plans has inspired Gulf states, such as Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, to launch similar projects.