Abu Dhabi: A set of safety and security regulations, drafted on international practices, are to be added to the UAE's nuclear law by the end of this year.
"By the end of this year, a set of safety and security regulations will be added to the UAE's nuclear law that was issued last year. This will better equip the country's legal framework to tackle two main external risks - environmental crises and terrorist threats," Major Mohammad Al Shamsi, Nuclear Security Director at the Critical National Infrastructure Authority (CNIA), told Gulf News yesterday.
CNIA is the body in charge of securing all four nuclear power plants being built for the peaceful use of nuclear energy. The plants, which will help meet Abu Dhabi's electricity needs, are being built by a South Korean consortium, led by the Korea Electric Power Corporation.
Exact cost
The exact cost of securing the plants is not yet known since the designs have yet to be finalised. "But the total cost of constructing and securing the plants has been estimated to be about $20 billion (Dh73.4 million)", said Major Al Shamsi, speaking at a regional seminar on the implementation of legislation of nuclear security, safety and safeguards.
The first reactor will be operational by 2017 when it will begin providing electricity to the grid. The three other reactors are scheduled to be completed by 2020.
According to the Major, by 2017 the first reactor is operational and the other will be in construction stage.
"All these premises will have to be well secured. So, we are now focusing on building capacity to be able to meet these needs."
He added that the training framework for stakeholders, engineers and other security personnel is ready so that the UAE can usher in a culture of nuclear safety and security.
"We want to abide by all international laws and regulations on nuclear use, and the most important element to achieve this is a nationwide culture of safety and security." .
In addition to sending personnel to regional and international universities in the United States, the United Kingdom and France, the CNIA is also developing a training centre.
Seminar
The seminar, which kicked off on Sunday, is organised by the Critical National Infrastructure Authority (CNIA), the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), in association with the IAEA.
The seminar aims to create an understanding of the security and safety needs among the major stakeholders of nuclear power, including the customs authorities, the police and the army. It includes presentations by experts with the CNIA, IAEA and FANR.
The five-day event has also organised discussions with experts from a number of other industrial professionals.
UAE nuclear energy programme
The UAE's policy of to pursuing a peaceful, civilian nuclear energy programme is on the right track, a nuclear security expert said yesterday.
"The UAE is on the right track towards the goal of peaceful use of nuclear energy. The country's approach is very well-established and safe," Doctor Dorel Popescu, a nuclear security official at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said.
The government backing means the country will be well-prepared to use nuclear energy. "But enforcing better border control, as well as nurturing a culture and system of peaceful energy use is essential," he said. "I believe, the UAE can create a sustainable system of nuclear safety and security."
He was speaking at a regional seminar on the implementation of legislation of nuclear security, safety and safeguards. At the seminar, high ranking officials from the GCC and the region, as well as international experts, discussed the use of legislation to overcome security concerns such as nuclear trafficking, reactor meltdowns and terrorist attacks.
Timeline
- January 15, 2009: Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Foreign Minister, and former United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice sign bilateral agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation.
- May 21, 2009: US President Barack Obama approves the Agreement for cooperation between the government of the United States of America and the government of the United Arab Emirates concerning peaceful uses of nuclear energy.
- December 27, 2009: UAE, South Korea sign $75 billion (Dh275.4 billion) contract to build nuclear power plants in the UAE
- April 22, 2010: Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) selects government land in Braka, a site on the Arabian Gulf about 75 kilometres from the Saudi border on Emirates Road, for the construction of the country's first four nuclear plants.
