The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Westinghouse Electric Company have signed a memorandum of understanding to speed up the usage of nuclear energy throughout the United States. The ENEC Westinghouse nuclear partnership represents a major collaboration between Emirati expertise and American nuclear ambitions.
The deal, signed in Washington, D.C., is designed to help the U.S. reach its ambitious goal of quadrupling nuclear power capacity by 2050. This is seen as crucial to meeting the surging energy demand driven by rapid advancements in artificial intelligence and the expanding tech sector.
Through the ENEC Westinghouse nuclear partnership, the two companies will explore ways to accelerate deployment of Westinghouse’s AP1000 reactor technology—currently the only licensed, ready-to-build modular reactor on the market. The partnership also aims to enhance cooperation across the nuclear fuel supply chain and may involve expanded operational support from Westinghouse at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the UAE.
His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, ENEC’s Managing Director and CEO, emphasised the strategic importance of the partnership: “The world is turning to nuclear energy as a necessity for delivering clean and reliable baseload electricity. Our collaboration with Westinghouse brings together two leaders in our fields.”
Dan Sumner, Westinghouse’s interim CEO, highlighted America’s ambitious nuclear targets, stating, “the U.S. has a bold vision to have 10 large-scale nuclear reactors under construction by 2030, and Westinghouse is working closely with industry partners to make this a reality.” He noted that an AP1000 fleet deployment would create tens of thousands of manufacturing, engineering, and construction jobs whilst delivering billions in economic impact.
This ENEC Westinghouse nuclear partnership builds upon ENEC’s proven success at the Barakah plant, which currently provides around 25% of the UAE’s power while preventing 22.4 million tonnes of COâ‚‚ emissions annually. All four reactors at Barakah are now operational, producing 40 TWh of clean electricity continuously.
Ultimately, the partnership aligns with ENEC’s broader global strategy to share expertise developed through one of the world’s most advanced nuclear energy programs. It supports worldwide efforts to integrate nuclear energy into clean energy roadmaps and combat climate change effectively.
