UAE’s nuclear energy programme continues to be on track

United Arab Emirates’ sojourn to attain a peaceful nuclear programme is firmly on course and if the reports issued by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation’s (FANR) are to believed, as as many as 85 per cent of the operating licenses for Units 1 and units 2 reactors at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant has received the due approval.

The report which was made public on Wednesday, revealed that the total expense incurred for the year 2017 was Dh273,905,152 and is lower than 2016, when the expenditure amounted to Dh282 million.

Having said this, safety remains the top priority for all the authorities concerned and Dh52 million are directed towards the Nuclear Safety Department. Also, DH39 million will be allocated to Radiation Safety Department.

According to FANR chairman Abdullah Nasser Al Suwaidi: “In 2017, the FANR announced its five-year strategic goals to ensure the peaceful, safe and secure use of nuclear energy and radiation sources as well as the sustainability of the UAE’s regulatory infrastructure. As the country moves rapidly forward with developing its nuclear sector, the FANR has made notable progress in 2017 in terms of honouring the UAE’s commitments under the 2008 Policy of the UAE on the Evaluation and Potential Development of Peaceful Nuclear Energy.”

“The year 2017 also marked the 41st anniversary since the UAE joined the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and started a successful partnership of cooperation. This ongoing cooperation enables FANR to ensure world-class safety standards and international best practices with regard to nuclear regulation,” he further added in the report

He also maintained that the nation is committed towards attaining a transparent and peaceful nuclear energy programme which complied with the regulations rolled out by the IAEA as well as the rules issued by different international bodies which have information about the country’s nuclear programme.