Testing completed at Barakah 3

19 December 2018


The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) said on 17 December that it had completed cold hydrostatic testing (CHT) at unit 3 of the Barakah nuclear plant in Abu Dhabi.

The testing incorporated the lessons learned from Barakah 1&2, according to a statement from Enec. Before CHT began, Barakah 3’s Nuclear Steam Supply Systems (NSSS) were flushed with demineralised water, and the reactor pressure vessel (RPV) head and reactor coolant pump seals were installed. During the testing, the welds, joints, pipes and components of the reactor coolant system and associated high-pressure systems were verified. The pressure inside the systems was increased to 25% above what will be the normal operating pressure.
 
Enec is responsible for the $19bn project to build four 345MWe APR-1400 reactors at Barakah, about 240km west of Abu Dhabi city in the UAE. Construction is being undertaken by a South Korean consortium led by Korea Electric Power Corporation (Kepco). Enec CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi said: “The successful completion of the CHT ensures that Unit 3’s coolant systems and high-pressure components meet the highest international standards of quality and safety, as per the regulations of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation."  

The testing process involved inspection teams from Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power and Kepco along with Enec and commissioning oversight and quality surveillance personnel from Nawah Energy Company (a joint venture formed by Enec and Kepco to operate the plant). They performed detailed system inspections, verifying no component and piping system leakage. Earlier in 2018, Enec and Kepco completed all major construction work including major concrete pouring, installation of the turbine generator, and the internal components of the RPV in preparation for testing and commissioning.

The project at Barakah is progressing steadily, and as of the end of October, unit 3 was more than 86% complete, while overall progress rate of units 1 to 4 were more than 91%, Enec said. In March, Enec and Kepco held a ceremony at the site to mark the official completion of Barakah 1, but gave no schedule for commercial operation. In May Enec said the loading of nuclear fuel assemblies at Barakah 1 had been delayed until the end of 2019/early 2020. The updated schedule was announced following “a comprehensive operational readiness review” by Nawah Energy Company.

However,  Korean press reports have appeared expressing concern about cracks that had been found at the plant. On 4 December, Enec acknowledged on its website that voids had been discovered at units 2 and 3 of the Barakah nuclear plant. In addition to the Korean companies  (including Kepco, Hyundai E&C and Samsung C&T), Enec said that “independent concrete experts” with which it has a contract had also taken part in the investigation.

Enec said that “the repairs at Barakah units 2 and 3 are not expected to have an impact on the nuclear plant construction project”. However, Enec and Kepco’s contract states that a fee of $600,000 a day will be assessed if the contract is delayed.



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