UAE signs agreement with Bill Gates’ nuclear firm

Bill Gates’ nuclear reactor firm, TerraPower LLC, signed a deal on Monday with the UAE’s nuclear company, ENEC, to explore the possibility of developing advanced reactors in the UAE and other locations worldwide.

This agreement is a result of the UAE’s efforts to boost its nuclear energy potential. It aligns with a commitment made by over 20 countries at the COP28 climate conference in Dubai, which aims to triple the use of nuclear energy this decade as part of the global fight against climate change.

“For the UAE, we’re looking for a future for the clean electrons and molecules that will be brought to reality by advanced reactors,” stated Mohamed Al Hammadi, CEO of ENEC, during the agreement signing.

Also, TerraPower CEO Chris Levesque said, “bringing advanced nuclear technologies to market is critical to meeting global decarbonisation targets.”

Currently, the UAE operates a conventional nuclear power plant near Abu Dhabi, which started generating electricity in 2020.

On the other hand, TerraPower is in the process of demonstrating its advanced Natrium reactor in Wyoming, USA, with the aim of making it operational by 2030.

Advanced reactors are smaller, simpler to construct, and more flexible than traditional plants. They are regarded by some as crucial supplements to fluctuating power sources like wind and solar, which are growing rapidly.

The agreement between TerraPower and the UAE aims to investigate potential applications for advanced nuclear reactors, such as grid power storage, hydrogen production, and the decarbonisation of coal, steel, and aluminium plants.

However, a potential obstacle is that TerraPower’s Natrium reactors need a fuel known as high-assay low-enriched uranium (HALEU), which is primarily produced by Russia at present.

Wyoming’s project has faced setbacks due to concerns about the supply of HALEU following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. However, the company has informed Reuters that it anticipates the United States will be capable of producing this fuel within the next decade.

TerraPower has faced setbacks in its Wyoming project due to worries about the availability of HALEU fuel after Russia attacked Ukraine, but it expects the US to be able to make the fuel in the next 10 years, according to Reuters.

The U.S. is making efforts to initiate the production of HALEU within its borders.

To achieve this, they have entered into a contract with a firm known as Centrus to spearhead the project.