The first nuclear reactor in the Middle East will be delayed until 2019

The first nuclear reactor in the United Arab Emirates, originally scheduled to open last year, has been postponed to 2019
due to training delays.

The $24.
4 billion, 5,600 MW Barakah nuclear power plant is the world's largest nuclear power project under construction and the first in the Arab world
.

A source told Reuters: "Plans have been postponed and schedules are tight.
.
.
The current launch schedule will be 2019
.
”

The first of four reactors built by Korea Electric Power Company (KEPCO) was completed last year and will begin operations
.

But UAE regulator Federal Nuclear Regulatory Authority (FANR) refused to provide an operating license to Nawah, a joint venture between KEPCO and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), which will be responsible for the plant's operations
.

Nawah recruited 1,800 employees but lacked nuclear experience and expertise, so specialized training
was needed, according to sources.
The UAE is now focused on getting all four reactors operational
by May 2020.

"The UAE is developing nuclear power for the first time, and it is also the first in
the Arab world," the source said.
The country did not have a nuclear culture before and now has to develop an entire nuclear economy
around a nuclear reactor project.
It takes time
.
”

South Korean President Moon Jae-in will visit the UAE and will attend the completion ceremony of the first reactor
.
Reuters also reported that "the completion ceremony of the No.
1 reactor will be held
.
" However, it's not ready to launch and may be delayed until the next year
.
”

It is reported that the UAE will be the first new country
to acquire nuclear power in more than two decades.
Bangladesh, Turkey and Saudi Arabia are preparing to follow suit, and the World Nuclear Association estimates that more than 20 countries currently do not have nuclear power
.