Abu Dhabi: The UAE is leading regional and international efforts in clean and renewable energy and building future generations, said His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The UAE has placed its aspirations and hopes in the youth who are equipped with modern science and knowledge to lead and run national projects and initiatives, he added.
Shaikh Mohammad made these remarks during Sunday’s extraordinary Cabinet meeting, which was held at Barakah nuclear energy plant, the largest peaceful nuclear project in the world, located in the Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi.
Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs and Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, were present during the meeting.
“The UAE under the leadership of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and follow up of His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces is pressing ahead towards achieving its ambition of the global leadership in all its projects and initiatives.
This would be achieved by the efforts and efficiency of Emirati cadres and by employing the latest practices and techniques. Every day, we realise a new achievement and the UAE is now leading the regional and international efforts in the peaceful energy sector”, Shaikh Mohammad added.
During the meeting, Shaikh Mohammad alongside Cabinet members reviewed the latest developments on the UAE’s peaceful nuclear energy programme. Khaldoun Khalifa Al Mubarak, Chairman of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), gave a general overview about the latest developments and phases of building and completing the Barakah project, which consists of four nuclear power stations costing Dh89 billion.
Shaikh Mohammad and the Cabinet members visited the Simulation Training Centre, which offers an intensive training to obtain nuclear power reactor operator certifications. Engineer Amani Al Hosani, Deputy Simulators Manager and the first Emirati nuclear power engineer, gave a presentation on the centre and its operational readiness plans.
While meeting with Emirati engineers and top officials, Shaikh Mohammad praised the team spirt and positive developments made in the project. He also expressed his pride in the Emirati cadres working in Barakah and their hands-on experience in operating and running the project. “We are so proud of our young people who work in the largest nuclear project in the world. They are the major driving force for future achievements,” Shaikh Mohammad said
The energy sector is a key component of the UAE centennial 2071 plan and the eco-friendly, sustainable and safe nuclear power will play a vital role in the country’s future, Shaikh Mohammad noted, adding “Barakah is a national strategic project that will create a lot of job opportunities in engineering, advanced technology and future science and will contribute to advance our modern industrial sectors. The Emirati cadres account for 60 per cent (of whom 20 per cent are females) of the total number of workers”.
During the meeting, the Cabinet approved a number of resolutions and federal laws as well as the setting up of a higher committee to oversee the implementation of Emirates Standardised Test System (EmSAT) under the chairmanship of Minister of Education. The Cabinet also approved the issuance of a federal law to regulate mosques affairs and another law amending provisions of the Cabinet resolution No. 42 of 2009 on the minimum capital of insurance companies.
Also approved were some international agreements to further enhance cooperation and the country’s international stature.
