Korean builders started full-scale construction on nuclear power plant unit 2 in Barakah, United Arab Emirates, on Tuesday, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy said.

The construction is part of the nation’s first nuclear power plant export deal, which was sealed in 2009. Under the deal worth 21 trillion won ($19 billion), Korea will build four reactors in Barakah by 2020. 

Trade, Industry and Energy Minister Yoon Sang-jick and other VIPs from the UAE side, including Minister for Presidential Affairs Khaldoon Al Mubarak and Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation CEO Mohamed Al Hammadi, joined the concretepouring ceremony, which was held near the construction site.

According to the ministry, the Korea Electric Power Corp.-led Korean consortium broke ground for the first reactor last July and started construction of the second unit ahead of schedule.

The UAE project recently was put in the center of a social issue as the KEPCO vice president Byun Jun-yeon said despite citizens’ opposition, the reason why KEPCO has to push for the power transmission tower construction in Miryang City is because of the UAE construction project.

He told reporters that the third Kori reactor near Miryang is a reference model for UAE reactors under construction, and Korea has to pay a penalty if the third Kori reactor is not run by 2015. It is impossible to meet the timeline unless the construction of power transmission towers in Myrang is resumed in the latter part of this year.

By Seo Jee-yeon (jyseo@heraldcorp.com)