UAE envoy: Nation's nuclear power program maturing

Ambassador Hamad Al Kaabi, the United Arab Emirates' resident representative, spoke on behalf of the Gulf nation’s growing nuclear power program last week in an interview with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“Building a sustainable national capacity is a challenge for the global nuclear sector, and naturally also for the UAE,” Al Kaabi said. “We have taken aggressive steps in developing the required human resources through an array of programmes, including scholarships, on-the-job training, and introducing nuclear education at undergraduate, master's and Ph.D. levels. These will produce an advanced nuclear cadre to support long-term sustainability objectives.”

The country, which began constructing its first reactor in 2012, has maintained a close relationship with the IAEA. As active affiliates of the Technical Cooperation Program, UAE participation has been steadily growing over the last few years. Additionally, the UAE has executed all relevant international agreements regarding safety, security and liability.

As the UAE moves into more advanced states of nuclear commissioning and operation, the country will continue to contribute to the work of the agency by “providing feedback” and “sharing its experience in implementing the IAEA guidance," Al Kaabi said.

“We are now getting closer to 'graduating' from the 'nuclear newcomers' category,” Al Kaabi said. “While support areas may change, IAEA assistance will continue to be valuable.”