Drone attack on UAE nuclear plant stokes escalation fears

The UAE is investigating a weekend drone attack on its $28 billion Barakah nuclear power plant that could escalate its three-month old conflict with Iran.

Though air defense systems shot down two of the three drones, the third one hit an electrical generator within the massive compound, which is operated by state-owned Emirates Nuclear Energy Co. and was built with the Korea Electric Power Corp.

Barakah, the Gulf’s first commercial nuclear power installation, is a central part of the UAE’s strategy to shift away from fossil fuels and move toward net zero emission energy sources. It currently supplies 25% of the country’s power.

No radiation was released in the attack, though one of Barakah’s four reactors was switched to emergency diesel power, The National reports.

Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed condemned what he described as a “treacherous terrorist attack,” while Presidential Advisor Anwar Gargash indicated that Iran was the prime suspect. The assault on Barakah, “whether carried out by the principal perpetrator or through one of its agents, represents a dangerous escalation,” Gargash wrote on X.

Since the end of February, Iran-linked attacks have hit or damaged Gulf-linked assets, including ADNOC tankers and gas facilities in Abu Dhabi, KEZAD industrial sites and the Emirates Global Aluminium complex