Country ‘rapidly moving forward’ to developing peaceful nuclear energy
dubai — The UAE is “rapidly moving forward” with the development of its peaceful nuclear energy sector, a top official has said.
“The successful conclusion of phase 3 Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission is a testament to the UAE’s commitment to upholding the highest international standards of safety, security, and transparency, as we approach the commissioning of the nation’s first nuclear energy plant,” Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, the UAE’s Permanent Representative at the IAEA, said.
His comments came as the country hosted the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) INIR mission from June 24 to July 1. The aim of the mission was to assist the UAE by providing a review of the nation’s overall nuclear energy infrastructure. The UAE is the first country to implement and achieve Milestone 3 of the IAEA’s ‘Milestones’ approach to nuclear energy infrastructure development.
An international team of nine IAEA and international experts reviewed the UAE’s development since the last INIR mission conducted in 2011. The team focused
The review team has developed some recommendations which could further enhance the nuclear infrastructure.” Milko Kovachev, IAEA official
on the conditions required to achieve Milestone 3, through the assessment of 19 infrastructure issues. The mission team, led by the IAEA’s head of Nuclear Infrastructure Development, Milko Kovachev, is preparing a Phase 3 INIR mission report, which takes into account all facets of the nation’s nuclear energy programme.
“Our close relationship with the IAEA, as well as our cooperation with international nuclear energy organisations and regulators, have allowed us to rise to the forefront of the peaceful nuclear energy industry,” said Alkaabi.
Milko Kovachev, head of the IAEA’s Nuclear Infrastructure Development Section, said: “The UAE has made steady progress since the mission in 2011, which has been emphasised by the fact that the IAEA team has identified seven high-quality practices in relation to the 19 elements analysed.
“The review team has developed some recommendations which, if implemented, could further enhance the nuclear infrastructure in the country and support the development of a safe, transparent and peaceful nuclear energy programme.”
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