On 3 February 2015, Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), briefed newcomer and expanding nuclear power States on progress made in the development of a nuclear energy programme in the UAE during the IAEA Infrastructure Meeting in Vienna, Austria.
The 9th annual ‘Technical Meeting on Topical Issues in the Development of Nuclear Power Infrastructure’ was held at the IAEA headquarters on 3-6 February 2015 to discuss challenges and common issues.
The meeting brought together around 90 senior managers from national governments, future owner/operators, regulatory bodies and other institutions involved in national nuclear power programmes from 38 IAEA Member States.
This year’s forum focused on Member States’ challenges in prioritizing and sequencing activities that must be addressed in the nuclear infrastructure implementation process.
On the first day of the meeting, Ambassador Alkaabi joined a panel discussion on updates from newcomer countries along with Bangladesh, Belarus and Vietnam.
The UAE’s advance progress in the introduction of nuclear power has been recognized as a model for other countries considering the nuclear power option. The IAEA has been playing a crucial role in ensuring that the development of a nuclear power programme in the UAE is conducted in a safe, efficient, responsible and sustainable manner.
Since the UAE embarked on its nuclear energy programme, relevant national stakeholders have been actively participating in IAEA activities and have benefited greatly from the Agency’s services toward developing national infrastructures.
The UAE is keen on not only benefiting from the Agency’s services but is also devoted to sharing its best practices and lessons learned in the process with other Member States.
“UAE experts support IAEA International Peer Review Services, both through sending local experts to review missions in other countries and receiving missions to assess the UAE programme,” Ambassador Alkaabi commented.
The meeting also addressed suggestions and comments from Member States on revision of the IAEA publication “Milestones in the Development of a National Infrastructure for Nuclear Power,” one of the IAEA’s key guidance documents for nuclear newcomers. Results from the two-year process of updating the publication in accordance with feedback from Member States’ lessons learned by newcomers were presented to the meeting participants.
The UAE’s experience as the first 'newcomer' country in 27 years to start constructing its first reactor was emphasized, particularly to share the country’s experience with other Member States.
“Strong government commitment, establishing the legal framework and a competent nuclear regulator, as well as adopting an innovative procurement approach all allowed the UAE to advance quickly,” said Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi in an interview with the IAEA.
IAEA interview with Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi on the nuclear infrastructure: https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/consideration-construction-united-arab-emirates-journey-nuclear-power
Presentations made by the UAE delegation are available on the meeting webpage: http://www.iaea.org/NuclearPower/Meetings/2015/2015-02-03-02-06-NIDS.html
