For the first time, the United Arab Emirates is taking significant steps to protect the Barakah nuclear power plant—its only commercial nuclear facility in the Gulf—from the serious threats posed by climate change.
Satellite Monitoring Initiatives
Since September, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre have teamed up to harness satellite technology.
They are closely monitoring the environmental conditions around the Barakah site, gathering essential data on risks like rising sea levels and changing land and water temperatures.
The initiative also looks into seismic activity and other environmental challenges, assessing their potential impact and severity.
This proactive approach highlights just how daunting the challenges of climate change are and underscores the need for governments to adjust their strategies to prevent ecological disasters.
With extreme weather patterns growing more frequent and intense—high temperatures and heavy rainfall, for example—critical infrastructure is at risk, particularly in regions like the Middle East, where summer temperatures can reach nearly 50 degrees Celsius (122 degrees Fahrenheit).
Energy Infrastructure Resilience
The Director General of FANR pointed out that using satellite monitoring to protect energy infrastructure from climate-related threats is rare among nations.
In late 2022, the UK’s National Grid Plc showed interest in utilizing satellite imagery to strengthen the resilience of its electricity and gas networks.
The effort by FANR aims to deliver swift warnings about any threats that may emerge for the Barakah plant, which is located near a blistering desert extending into Saudi Arabia and relies on seawater for cooling—water that is increasingly subject to rising temperatures.
Stressing the critical need for energy stability, the Director General affirmed that maintaining reliable energy production at the Barakah plant for at least the next 60 years must be a top priority.
Although the facility boasts a capacity of 5.6 gigawatts, it only began full commercial operations last year.
Importance of Climate Considerations
As climate change continues to pose new risks, the steps taken by the UAE to monitor and adapt its energy infrastructure may serve as a crucial model for other nations facing similar challenges.
Source: Insurancejournal
