KEPCO setting new standards for safety in UAE

By Kim Tae-gyu

Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp (ENEC) are celebrating a safe start in their bid to construct four nuclear reactors in the United Arab Emirates by 2020.

KEPCO, the prime contractor of the UAE nuclear energy program, said Wednesday that the Seoul-based entity celebrated more than 2 million man-hours without a single accident in Braka, about 270 kilometers west of Abu Dhabi.

A man- or person-hour refers to the amount of work done by an average worker in an hour. The calculation excludes breaks.

``The milestone that we celebrate today reflects that ENEC and KEPCO have made a positive start and are on the right path to ensure safe operations,’’ ENEC Chief Executive Officer Mohamed Al Hammadi said at an event to celebrate the feat in Braka.

``However, there is still a lot of work ahead and I call on all of you to continuously prioritize safe operations and to adhere to our safety culture, as the project develops and we work together to deliver safe, clean, reliable and efficient electricity to the UAE by 2017.’’

In December 2009, KEPCO beat other bidders to win the $18.6 billion contract with UAE under which the utility company will build four reactors in Braka along with Korean constructors.

The first reactor should be completed by 2017.

KEPCO has begun the job of readying the Braka site for the largest energy project in the Middle East, grading the land and preparing the area before construction begins.

The former state monopoly has built permanent roads and parking areas, erected communications towers, installed fencing and other

security infrastructure as well as offices and living quarters without any accidents.

``The UAE peaceful nuclear energy program is KEPCO’s first export project of the APR-1400 Korean reactor,’’ KEPCO Abu Dhabi branch site manager Kim Hee-kwang said.

``We work under the basic principle of safety first and have implemented a series of safety policies, plans and procedures to achieve a world-class standard of health and safety to ultimately achieve zero accidents during the entire construction period.’’

The APR-1400 stands for the Advanced Power Reactor (APR)-1400, the latest nuclear reactor developed by KEPCO and its partners in Asia’s fourth-largest economy.