ENEC launches Graduate Plant Operator Programme for engineers

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) has launched the Graduate Plant Operator (GPO) Programme, designed to nurture the next generation of Emirati nuclear operations leaders, strengthening its commitment to investing in the next generation of Emirati nuclear professionals who will drive the nation’s nuclear operations forward.

The GPO Programme is open to high-achieving Emirati graduates with a bachelor’s degree in engineering disciplines (Electrical, Mechanical, Nuclear, etc.). It offers a unique pathway to gain the comprehensive knowledge, hands-on experience, and operational expertise essential for a dynamic career in nuclear energy plant operations and management.

Candidates will begin their journey with practical training as Local Operators at the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, gaining an in-depth understanding of the plant’s operational systems.

After three years, successful operators will progress to Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) training, an essential leadership role responsible for the safe operation, maintenance, and testing of plant systems.

Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said, “The Graduate Plant Operator Programme is a strategic investment in our national human capital. By empowering today’s graduates, we are building the UAE’s clean energy legacy; ensuring our plant operates to the highest national and international standards of safety, security, and efficiency.

Nuclear energy not only plays a critical role in assuring energy security and sustainability, but given the life-cycle of nuclear plants, it has created an entirely new sector that offers high-value careers for at least the next 100 years ahead, providing job security for decades.”

The GPO Programme is one of numerous education and training initiatives launched by ENEC since its inception to ensure a robust pipeline of skilled professionals dedicated to the safe and efficient operation of the Barakah Plant over its 60 years of operations and beyond.

It complements ENEC’s existing Graduate Development Programme (GDP), which offers 12 to 30 months of structured, workplace-based learning for Emirati graduates across technical and support functions critical to Barakah’s operations. Admission criteria for both programmes are closely aligned.

ENEC has empowered over one thousand Emirati talents through a range of programmes, including Scholarships, Train for Work, the Graduate Development Programme (GDP), the Diploma in Nuclear Technology (DNT), and the Internship. State-of-the-art facilities at Barakah have enabled the company to cultivate a team of over 70 Emirati SROs and ROs, who form the backbone of the plant’s 190-strong SRO and RO workforce, highlighting the UAE’s success in building a local nuclear workforce.

Emirati graduates interested in applying to the GPO Programme or learning more about ENEC’s talent development opportunities can visit: www.enec.gov.ae/careers.

Last week, Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) and Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) today announced the UAE’s first delivery of low-carbon aluminium using electricity generated at Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant.

EGA is marketing this type of low-carbon aluminium under the product brand MinimAL. The metal will be supplied to CANEX Aluminum, Egypt’s leading aluminium downstream producer.

EGA’s new product positions the UAE as a reliable supplier of low-carbon industrial materials to global markets and expands EGA’s low-carbon metal portfolio for our local and global customers.

Last month, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) and Framatome have signed a fuel supply agreement for the supply of nuclear fuel assemblies and engineering services for the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in the UAE.

The agreement is a key step in ENEC’s long-term strategy to diversify its fuel supply chain, enhancing energy security by ensuring an uninterrupted supply of 24/7 carbon-free power from the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant to businesses, industries and homes across the UAE.

Under the agreement, Framatome will supply complete nuclear fuel assemblies for use at the Barakah Plant. Framatome brings decades of experience in nuclear fuel manufacturing and innovation, making it a strategic partner to further strengthen the resilience and flexibility of ENEC’s fuel supply chain and ensure the plant’s continued excellence in nuclear power generation.

Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and CEO of ENEC, said, “Our agreement with Framatome advances our strategy to strengthen the security and reliability of our nuclear fuel supply chain. Diversification is key to ensuring that we continue to deliver safe, clean, and reliable electricity-powering the sustainable growth of the UAE’s economy.

WAM