Former IAEA chief arrives in UAE for energy forum

Dubai: Dr Mohammad Al Baradei, former Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and Nobel Peace Prize winner, and Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, the former President of India, arrived on Saturday to participate in Dubai Global Energy Forum 2011.

They were welcomed by Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer, Vice Chairman of the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and heads of the forum organising committees.

"The status of energy in the Arab world needs planning. We need to use automation in the use of all types of energy sources from gases to nuclear, renewable and coal. The Arab world should reach integration in energy by linking their electricity networks and providing large investments to produce and generate solar power that is abundant in all Arab states," Dr Al Baradei said.

Dr Abdul Kalam said: "Sustainability comes in two things. Number one is availability. The second one is whether we can have a green energy future. I'm very happy that Dubai Global Energy Forum is addressing green energy. Particularly, India has just now launched a programme for solar power stations providing 20,000 Megawatts by the year 2020. So we are very happy to have a sustainable energy programme."