Nawah energy company celebrates graduation of 195 energy pioneers

Abu Dhabi: Nawah Energy Company (Nawah) celebrated the graduation of 195 students who are specialising in nuclear energy as part of the ‘Energy Pioneers’ scholarship programme.

The graduates successfully completed nuclear science and technology-focused courses from various institutions of higher education in the UAE and abroad, including Khalifa University, Abu Dhabi Polytechnic, and Pennsylvania State University, Texas A&M University and North Carolina State University in the US.

Nawah chief executive officer Mark Reddemann congratulated the students in his speech, and emphasised their responsibility towards building and developing the nuclear energy sector in the UAE for future generations.

“It is with great pride that we witness the graduation of an outstanding group of energy pioneers, who have demonstrated great diligence, commitment and passion to become future leaders in the UAE peaceful nuclear energy programme,” said Reddemann.

“In line with the Abu Dhabi Plan, these energy pioneers will play a critical role in supporting operational readiness and safe operations of the four units at Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant for decades to come, and contribute to the social and economic prosperity of the UAE,” Reddemann added.

Nawah’s education programmes align with Abu Dhabi Plan and aim to give young UAE nationals the skills and knowledge needed to pursue a career in the UAE’s nuclear energy programme. Their education initiatives offer scholarships in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) subjects and highly technical fields. The Energy Pioneers programme has been successful in helping students gain the skills needed to fill highly-skilled, technical positions at Nawah, which will be responsible for operating and maintaining the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in Al Dhafra Region of Abu Dhabi.

To date, over 500 UAE nationals have benefited from scholarships through the Energy Pioneers programme. In addition, Nawah currently has approximately 200 young Emiratis in training to become reactor operators and senior reactor operators. Alongside their international experts, they will operate the nuclear reactors at Barakah and will ensure the safe generation of clean, efficient and reliable electricity at each of the four units.