Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation workshop on nuclear safety
The workshop aimed at boosting Emirati capacity to assess safety of nuclear facilities drew 19 participants from the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), Khalifa University and FANR itself
Abu Dhabi: The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) week-long workshop on Safety Assessment of Nuclear Power Plants started on Sunday in Abu Dhabi.
The workshop aimed at boosting Emirati capacity to assess safety of nuclear facilities drew 19 participants from the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), Khalifa University and FANR itself, who have recently graduated from science and engineering studies.
The event is organised jointly by FANR, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the Korea Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS).
Presentations at the workshop are focused on safety requirements of the IAEA, safety assessment principles for pressurised water reactor (PWR) technology, which is applicable to the South Korean APR 1400 design, the type that ENEC has applied for a licence to construct in Braka, in the Western Region of the Abu Dhabi Emirate.
Safety assessment is a comprehensive process that encompasses all aspects related to protection and safety. For a nuclear facility, this includes siting, design and operation.
"This is an investment in a sustainable nuclear energy programme," said Ian Grant, Director of FANR Nuclear Safety Department.
"It does take a long time to come to a level where you can assess the safety of a nuclear facility," he added. "But here we have three major safety institutions, the IAEA, KINS and FANR, joining hands in bringing up national capacity for tomorrow's safety assessors."
The UAE's independent nuclear safety regulator has been reviewing ENEC's construction licence application for two nuclear power plants at the Braka site since 27 December 2010.
This review, planned to take approximately 18 months, will include any supplemental issues raised by the accident in Japan's Fukushima nuclear power plant, caused by an earthquake and tsunami.
After construction is completed, any nuclear facility will also have to receive a separate licence from FANR for operation, which will lead to a second, thorough review by the regulator.
