The UAE’s EMSTEEL Group has said it plans to phase out its steel production further by acquiring clean, nuclear-generated electricity from the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC).
The available energy is certified under the Abu Dhabi Clean Energy Certificates Program (REC Standard), which is managed by the Emirates Water & Electricity Company (EWEC) and places EMSTEEL as the first steelmaker in the region to use Clean Energy Certificates from nuclear power, highlighting innovation and accountability in a global sector that is very difficult to reduce.
The new agreement builds on a decade-long partnership between the two companies. During the construction of the replacement Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, EMSTEEL supplied 160,000 tons of nuclear-grade rebar, meeting 60 percent of the total rebar project requirements.
The purchase enables EMSTEEL to access low-carbon electricity, thereby directly reducing Scope 2 emissions and reducing the carbon footprint of steel produced in the UAE.
The Clean Energy Certification Program demonstrates how nuclear power enables clean production and strengthens the UAE’s position as a global leader in sustainable industrial growth. The deal will also advance TrueGreen, EMSTEEL’s strategic sustainability identity that includes decades of decarbonisation initiatives.
Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, CEO of EMSTEEL group, commented: “Clean energy, technical strength, and proven data are the basis of reliable industry differentiation.
At TrueGreen, we integrate these principles into every aspect of our operations. This collaboration with ENEC strengthens our clean energy portfolio and supports our long-term strategy to scale low-carbon steel production. It shows how national partnerships can accelerate industrial change and position the UAE as a global leader in sustainable manufacturing. “
Steel performance includes sustainable energy
EMSTEEL has incorporated 86 percent clean electricity across its steel operations, and 14 percent across its cement production. It aims to reach 100 percent clean electricity by 2030 in line with its long-term decarbonisation roadmap.
The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, owned and developed by ENEC, produces approximately 40 TWh per year, providing 25 percent of the total electricity demand in the UAE and avoiding approximately 22.4 million tons of carbon emissions each year.
With at least 60 years of operation left, Barakah shows how nuclear power can significantly improve national energy security and sustainability, increase available energy levels for industrial growth while building a strong, resilient grid.
Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Group Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, added: “Matching ENEC’s carbon-free load electricity and the continuous demand of EMSTEEL industries shows what the energy transition looks like in practice: clean energy on an industrial scale, delivered with traceable certificates while simultaneously ensuring the reliability of the grid.
“This partnership turns a decade of partnership into a repeatable model in sectors that are working hard to reduce, reducing Scope 2 emissions today while strengthening competitiveness and reliability of the supply chain. As the demand for AI, electrification, and industry grows, Barakah’s proven performance provides the UAE with a platform to reduce the growth of electricity emissions and deliver long-term proven solutions for the cleanest solutions.”
The agreement highlights how cross-sector partnerships are driving the UAE’s industrial revolution.
