UAE power demand to triple

The UAE's power demand is set to increase.

Minister suggests nuclear power to play big role in meeting increasing demand.

Electricity demand in the UAE is likely to triple by 2020, and nuclear energy is to play a key role in addressing future needs, a top official has said.

UAE foreign minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan has said the country’s interest in nuclear power was “motivated by the need to develop additional sources of electricity to meet future demand projections and to ensure the continued rapid development of its economy”.

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In comments published by the news agency WAM, he continued: “Analysis conducted by official UAE entities has concluded that national annual peak demand for electricity is likely to triple by 2020, reflecting a cumulative annual growth rate of roughly 9%.”

“In evaluating different options to meet this demand, nuclear energy emerged as a proven, environmentally promising and commercially competitive option which could make a significant contribution to the UAE’s economy and future energy security,” he added.

Sheikh Abdullah’s comments came at the International Conference on Access to Civil Nuclear Energy in Paris in an address that was read on his behalf by Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.

He hailed the deal struck in December 2009 with a Korean consortium to build four nuclear power reactors in the UAE, with the first scheduled to be operational in 2017.

“International cooperation in the development of peaceful nuclear energy is a key element. It is a key to facilitate transfer of technology and an essential tool to ensure that such expansion in the use of nuclear energy is pursued in a responsible manner,” Sheikh Abdullah concluded.