From 4-14 April, a 25-member UAE delegation, comprising of representatives from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulator (FANR), the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), the Khalifa University of Science, Technology and Research (KUSTAR), the Critical National Infrastructure Authority (CNIA), and the National Emergency and Crisis Management Authority (NCEMA), as well as the UAE Permanent Mission attended the IAEA Fifth Review Meeting.
The 72 countries that are 'Contracting Parties' to the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) meet every three years at the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna for their fifth 'Review Meeting' to consider the implementation of the CNS.
The ten-day Conference discussed the country reports on nuclear safety that every Contracting Party is obliged to submit, as well as issues relating to safety management and safety culture, international cooperation and networking on emergency management. The conference also highlighted additional topics arising from the Fukushima nuclear accident.
At the Conference, the UAE presented its first National Report to the Fifth Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety, where the UAE’s nuclear energy program was commended as ‘outstanding’. The UAE attaches great importance to this mechanism and has demonstrated active involvement in this matter.
As a result of the Japanese disaster, the Contracting Parties are carrying out safety reviews of their nuclear installations, including the re-examination of the nuclear power plants' safety measures that defend against extreme external events.
The Contracting Parties stated that the learning process following the Fukushima accident will continue as more information is acquired and analysed.
Although the CNS is scheduled to meet every three years, it was agreed that they would convene an extraordinary meeting next year to analyse the Fukushima accident.
