Dubai: The UAE’s Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of the United States have signed an agreement for the exchange of technical information and cooperation in "nuclear safety, security and safeguarding matters" at the NRC's headquarters in Washington, DC.
The arrangement was made within the framework of the bilateral nuclear cooperation (123) agreement between the governments of the UAE and the US, which was implemented on December 17, 2009.
"The UAE's civilian nuclear energy programme upholds the highest standards of safety, security, nonproliferation and operational transparency. Government officials, nonproliferation advocates and energy experts worldwide have called the UAE approach a gold standard for countries interested in exploring nuclear energy for the first time," a statement on the matter said.
The FANR-NRC cooperation agreement will allow for the exchange of technical information relating to the regulation of and environmental impact of nuclear energy facilities.
It will also allow for joint safety research exchange, as well as nuclear safety training for personnel.
The signing ceremony was attended by Yousuf Al Otaiba, the UAE Ambassador to the US, as well as other UAE officials.
Al Otaiba said: "This cooperation arrangement is a major milestone that will strengthen the mutual cooperation between the UAE and the US in the areas of nuclear safety, security and safeguards."
