<p>A nuclear power plant in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates has been connected to the country's power grid, authorities said Wednesday.</p>.<p>The Barakah nuclear power plant in the Emirates' far western desert near the border with Saudi Arabia began sending out electricity, according the state-run WAM news agency.</p>.<p>WAM published a photograph of employees working inside of the plant's control room.</p>.<p>Authorities have not granted journalists access to the plant during its years of construction despite repeated requests. Officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency have seen the site.</p>.<p>On July 31, the plant's first reactor reached what scientists called its “first criticality." That's when the nuclear chain reaction within the reactor is self-sustaining.</p>.<p>Plans call for four reactors to be operating at Barakah, which authorities say will provide some 25 percent of all energy needs in this OPEC-member nation.</p>.<p>The USD 20 billion Barakah nuclear power plant was built by the Emirates with the help of South Korea.</p>.<p>It's the first nuclear power plant on the Arabian Peninsula.</p>.<p>The US has praised the UAE's nuclear program for agreeing never to acquire enrichment or reprocessing capabilities, which prevents it from being able to make weapons-grade uranium.</p>.<p>The US says that's a model agreement for other countries seeking nuclear power while also encouraging the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.</p>
<p>A nuclear power plant in the oil-rich United Arab Emirates has been connected to the country's power grid, authorities said Wednesday.</p>.<p>The Barakah nuclear power plant in the Emirates' far western desert near the border with Saudi Arabia began sending out electricity, according the state-run WAM news agency.</p>.<p>WAM published a photograph of employees working inside of the plant's control room.</p>.<p>Authorities have not granted journalists access to the plant during its years of construction despite repeated requests. Officials from the International Atomic Energy Agency have seen the site.</p>.<p>On July 31, the plant's first reactor reached what scientists called its “first criticality." That's when the nuclear chain reaction within the reactor is self-sustaining.</p>.<p>Plans call for four reactors to be operating at Barakah, which authorities say will provide some 25 percent of all energy needs in this OPEC-member nation.</p>.<p>The USD 20 billion Barakah nuclear power plant was built by the Emirates with the help of South Korea.</p>.<p>It's the first nuclear power plant on the Arabian Peninsula.</p>.<p>The US has praised the UAE's nuclear program for agreeing never to acquire enrichment or reprocessing capabilities, which prevents it from being able to make weapons-grade uranium.</p>.<p>The US says that's a model agreement for other countries seeking nuclear power while also encouraging the nonproliferation of nuclear weapons.</p>