ENEC Barakah Award 2025 Recognises UAE Leadership In Clean Baseload Electricity From Barakah

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Company has secured the 2025 Platts Global Energy Award for ‘Excellence in Energy-Power’, organised by S&P Global Commodity Insights in New York. The recognition underlines ENEC’s role in supplying long-term clean electricity and supporting heavy industry, digital infrastructure, and AI demand, while positioning Abu Dhabi and the wider UAE as a leading civil nuclear energy hub.

The award centres on the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, described as the first multi-unit nuclear facility and the largest single producer of clean electricity in the Arab world. Barakah is cited as a global reference point for large civil nuclear projects, based on its safe construction and reliable operation, its adherence to international standards, and its delivery within the approved schedule.

The Platts Global Energy Awards have highlighted companies across the energy chain for almost thirty years. The programme focuses on organisations that deliver measurable impact, rather than short-term publicity. By granting ENEC an Award of Excellence, the judging body lists the company alongside established international power sector players that are recognised for strong strategic execution and sector-wide influence.

The ‘Excellence in Energy-Power’ category is open to a full range of generation technologies. Eligible entries cover renewables, conventional power plants and advanced grid solutions in many regions. An independent panel made up of global energy specialists reviewed submissions before selecting ENEC, with the decision reflecting performance, operational reliability, and wider benefits linked to the Barakah project.

Barakah’s delivery on time and on budget has been highlighted as one of the world’s most efficient recent nuclear build programmes. The plant is described as providing stable baseload electricity, helping the UAE meet rapid growth in electricity demand from AI applications, technology firms and energy-intensive industries seeking cleaner, always-available power for long-term planning.

The milestone is the first time in ten years that an exclusively nuclear energy company has received this particular Platts award. This result signals the growing importance placed on nuclear energy by many countries. Governments are seeking dependable low-carbon power that can support grids around the clock, and the ENEC project is presented as a model of civil nuclear best practice for such ambitions.

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ENEC’s success at Barakah also highlights the organisation’s emphasis on safety, quality, and strong regulatory oversight. The plant is reported as meeting high international benchmarks while providing long-term national advantages, including diversified energy supply and reduced exposure to fossil fuel price swings. These outcomes further support Abu Dhabi’s positioning as a key player in the global power sector.

Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said, "This award is a clear recognition that nuclear energy is a crucial source of clean baseload electricity. The development of the Barakah Plant and the abundant electricity our highly qualified UAE Nationals, together with our international experts generate is testament to the vision and unwavering support of the UAE Leadership back in 2008. It has transformed the region’s energy landscape and supported our communities, industries, and growing digital infrastructure with dependable, clean electricity.

"We are now working with other countries and companies to share our model of civil nuclear success to accelerate the successful and timely deployment of nuclear energy globally."

Following the Platts recognition, ENEC is described as entering a new phase in which it exports know-how and pursues broader collaboration. The company is engaging states and corporations that plan to add nuclear power, offering lessons from Barakah’s development and operations to support safe, efficient and timely deployment of similar plants in other markets.

ENEC’s award underscores how large-scale nuclear projects are gaining renewed attention within international energy planning. For business and policy stakeholders in the Middle East, the Barakah experience and the Platts Global Energy Award provide a detailed case study of how civil nuclear programmes can be delivered to tight schedules while supporting economic growth, energy security and clean power targets.

With inputs from WAM