ENEC Launches Graduate Plant Operator Program GPO To Equip Emirati Engineers For Clean Energy Leadership

(MENAFN- Mid-East Info)

• The GPO Program is designed for high-performing Emirati graduates with bachelor's degrees in engineering disciplines
• Graduates of the program may progress to Senior Reactor Operator (SRO) training; a critical role for sustainable operations of the Barakah Plant

Abu Dhabi, UAE,August 2025: The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company ENEC, the entity responsible for delivering the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, has launched the Graduate Plant Operator (GPO) Program, 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 Program is open to high-achieving Emirati graduates with a bachelor's degree with 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.

His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said:“The Graduate Plant Operator Program 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 Program 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 Program (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 programs are closely aligned.

ENEC has empowered over one thousand Emirati talents through a range of programs, including, Scholarships, Train for Work, the Graduate Development Program (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.

About the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company:

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) is part of ADQ, one of the region's largest holding companies with a broad portfolio of major enterprises spanning key sectors of Abu Dhabi's diversified economy. Established by decree in December 2009 by the late His Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, ENEC represents all aspects of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program.

The four units of ENEC's flagship Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant are generating 40 TWh of safe, clean and reliable electricity 24/7 for the UAE, boosting the Nation's energy security and sustainability in parallel. The Barakah Plant generates around 25% of the nation's electricity while preventing the release of 22.4 million tons of carbon per annum. As a result, ENEC is leading the largest decarbonization effort in the country and spearheading the UAE Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative. Beyond overseeing safe, quality-led operations at Barakah, ENEC is focused on exploring opportunities to maximize the full value of the expertise developed in nuclear mega project program delivery and technology deployment through investment, collaboration and development opportunities. As part of this, ENEC is looking at new nuclear energy technologies such as Small Modular Reactors (SMRs) and Advanced Reactor technologies, through its ADVANCE Program, for potential domestic and international deployment.

About ENEC Operations:

A Joint Venture subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company ENEC and partially owned by the Korea Electric Power Corporation KEPCO, ENEC Operations is mandated to safely operate and maintain Units 1 to 4 of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in adherence to the highest standards of quality, safety, security, and operational transparency.

ENEC Operations is a multinational, multicultural company committed to operating excellence through its skilled nuclear energy workforce in the United Arab Emirates, with a focus on the development of UAE Nationals, and ensuring the highest levels of efficiency and standards in operating the Barakah Plant.

About ENEC Commercial:

A Joint Venture subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company ENEC and partially owned by the Korea Electric Power Corporation KEPCO, ENEC Commercial is in charge of representing the financial and commercial interests of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant project.

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