Setting up a nuclear power programme for electricity generation is among the national priorities of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Through the IAEA's technical cooperation programme, assistance is being provided to the UAE in developing the necessary infrastructure in a safe and secure manner. The UAE plans to build four nuclear energy plants, which will deliver an estimated total of 5,600 MW of electricity to the national grid by 2020.
This week, technical experts and national counterparts gathered at the Agency's Vienna headquarters to participate in the third Coordination Meeting of the Integrated Work Plan (IWP) to support the UAE's implementation of a nuclear power programme. Six participants from the United Arab Emirates were present, representing the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), Khalifa University and the UAE Permanent Mission.
The meeting's objectives were threefold: To discuss the progress of the nuclear power programme in the UAE; to review the implementation of the agreed-upon Integrated Work Plan related to IAEA support to the nuclear power infrastructure development of the UAE in 2014; and to finalize future plans for IAEA assistance to the UAE's nuclear power programme.
The UAE delegations noted their appreciation of the strong partnership with IAEA which supported UAE to fulfil its international obligation, further develop its local expertise and provided the platform to share its experience with the international community.
During the IWP meeting, the implementation of the previous year's activities was reviewed by the Programme Management Officer (PMO). In summary, 24 activities were implemented in 2014 based on the Key Infrastructure Issues under the IAEA Milestone Approach. Review missions and capacity building were provided in nuclear safety, safeguards, regulatory framework, radiation protection, human resources development, environmental protection, emergency planning, security and physical protection and radioactive waste management.
Milestones have already been met in 2015. Several missions were already implemented as planned under the IWP, including an Integrated Regulatory Review Service follow-up mission in January 2015 and an Emergency Preparedness Review Service mission in March 2015. The missions were designed to, respectively, review the effectiveness of the regulatory oversight of nuclear, radiation, radioactive waste and transport safety, and independently review preparedness for a nuclear and radiological (radiation) incident or emergency in the country.
