EMSTEEL, ENEC Partner to Cut Steel Emissions with Nuclear Power

EMSTEEL Group, one of the Middle East’s largest publicly listed steel and building materials producers, has taken a major step toward low-carbon manufacturing by expanding its clean energy partnership with Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC).

Under the latest agreement, EMSTEEL will source nuclear-generated electricity certified through Abu Dhabi’s Clean Energy Certificates Programme, aligned with the international I-REC standard and managed by Emirates Water & Electricity Company (EWEC). The move allows EMSTEEL to significantly cut emissions linked to purchased electricity, a major contributor to the carbon footprint of steel production.

The initiative reinforces EMSTEEL’s sustainability platform, TrueGreen, which brings together the company’s long-running decarbonisation efforts under a single strategic identity. It also highlights the growing role of nuclear power in supporting clean, reliable energy for heavy industry in the UAE.

Building on a decade-long partnership

The collaboration builds on more than ten years of cooperation between EMSTEEL and ENEC. During the construction of the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the first operational multi-unit nuclear facility in the Middle East and North Africa, EMSTEEL supplied around 160,000 tonnes of nuclear-grade rebar. This accounted for roughly 60 per cent of the project’s total rebar requirement, underscoring the company’s early involvement in the UAE’s civil nuclear programme.

By purchasing nuclear-based Clean Energy Certificates, EMSTEEL gains access to low-carbon baseload electricity. This directly lowers its Scope 2 emissions and reduces the overall carbon intensity of steel produced in the UAE. The company has also become the first steelmaker in the region to utilise nuclear-certified clean energy, setting a new standard for transparency and accountability in one of the world’s most emissions-intensive industries.

Progress toward 100% clean electricity

EMSTEEL has already integrated clean power across much of its operations. Currently, 86 per cent of electricity used in its steel plants and 14 per cent in its cement facilities comes from clean sources. This includes more than 1.48 million megawatt-hours from nuclear energy and over 650,000 megawatt-hours from solar certificates across its combined operations.

The company aims to reach 100 per cent clean electricity by 2030, in line with its long-term decarbonisation roadmap and the UAE’s broader climate goals.

Commenting on the development, Saeed Ghumran Al Remeithi, Group CEO of EMSTEEL, said that clean energy, technology and verified data are essential to credible industrial decarbonisation. He noted that the strengthened partnership with ENEC supports EMSTEEL’s ambition to scale low-carbon steel production while demonstrating how national collaborations can accelerate industrial transformation.

Nuclear energy at industrial scale

From ENEC’s perspective, the agreement showcases how carbon-free nuclear power can support continuous, high-demand industrial users without compromising grid reliability. Mohamed Al Hammadi, Managing Director and Group CEO of ENEC, said the partnership provides a practical model for hard-to-abate sectors seeking to cut emissions today while remaining competitive.

The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant currently produces around 40 terawatt-hours of electricity annually, supplying up to 25 per cent of the UAE’s total power demand. Its output avoids an estimated 22.4 million tonnes of carbon emissions each year. With an expected operational life of at least 60 years, Barakah is set to play a long-term role in strengthening energy security, supporting industrial growth and building a more resilient national grid.

Supporting Net Zero ambitions

The EMSTEEL–ENEC agreement highlights how cross-sector collaboration is driving the UAE’s industrial transition. By pairing clean, reliable nuclear power with heavy manufacturing, the partnership supports the country’s Net Zero 2050 Strategy while positioning the UAE as a global leader in sustainable, low-carbon industrial development.