UAE Leads Global Peaceful Nuclear Energy with Safety and Care

Post by : Bianca Suleiman

Photo: WAM

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is becoming a world leader in peaceful nuclear energy. The country is careful to follow the highest rules about safety, openness, and working well with other nations. This is very important now because the world needs clean and reliable energy to help fight climate change.

From the very beginning, the UAE chose to work openly and build strong partnerships with other countries. Two key partners are South Korea and the United States. Mohamed Al Hammadi, who is the Managing Director and CEO of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), said that the UAE’s nuclear energy program is a model for the world. He explained that the UAE’s success comes from great leadership, a clear plan, and a strong promise to keep things safe and open, while cooperating with many countries.

In an interview, Al Hammadi shared that the UAE has been one of the first countries to work closely with others in nuclear energy. He pointed out that during the COP28 climate talks, over 30 countries promised to increase nuclear energy three times by the year 2050 to help protect the environment. Around 120 companies and banks also agreed to support this goal.

Al Hammadi also talked about how the UAE and the US work together in new and smart ways, especially with fast-growing technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and data centers. He said that having clean and reliable energy from nuclear power is very important for projects like "Stargate UAE," which aims to make Abu Dhabi a leader in AI.

Key organizations in the UAE, such as ENEC and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), are very active in moving the nuclear program forward. They work with many international partners to share knowledge, exchange experience, and train skilled people.

The UAE’s cooperation with South Korea has been very important in building the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant. This partnership has grown to include new investments and work on smaller nuclear reactors called Small Modular Reactors (SMRs).

On the safety side, FANR works closely with its South Korean counterpart through agreements for joint inspections and training. They also meet regularly to keep up with new technologies and rules.

With the United States, the UAE has signed several important agreements to support nuclear innovation and sustainability. For example, they are working with the US Department of Energy’s Idaho National Laboratory to find ways to produce hydrogen, water, and steam using the Barakah plant.

The UAE is also partnering with companies like TerraPower and General Atomics to develop advanced nuclear technologies. Recently, a new partnership with GE Vernova was announced to explore using a type of SMR called the BWRX-300 around the world.

The UAE is also looking to work with China on nuclear power projects both at home and in other countries. This includes working on maintaining nuclear plants, developing special reactors, managing fuel supply, and finding new investment chances.

FANR continues to strengthen its cooperation with other countries' nuclear safety agencies to ensure the highest levels of safety, security, and non-proliferation. This shows the UAE’s strong dedication to following global nuclear rules.

To grow its international presence, ENEC signed an agreement with Romania to help build a Small Modular Reactor project there, with a $275 million investment from the UAE.

The UAE is also a leader in the region. It recently signed its first cooperation agreement on nuclear regulations with Saudi Arabia. This work builds on a 2019 peace agreement about nuclear energy. They are now sharing expertise, improving laws, and preparing for emergencies together.

At COP28, the UAE and Egypt signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to work together on peaceful nuclear energy and share knowledge.

Overall, the UAE continues to show other countries in the region how to develop nuclear energy safely and responsibly to support a cleaner, better future.