IAEA Closely Following UAE’s Success in Peaceful Nuclear Energy Sector: Hamad Al Kaabi

Jerusalem, 29 September, 2022 (TPS) -- VIENNA, 29th September 2022 (WAM)
Hamad Ali Al Kaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), said that the participants of the 66th Annual Regular Session of the IAEA General Conference currently being held in Vienna are closely following the UAE’s success in the peaceful nuclear energy sector, as well as its expertise in developing relevant infrastructure, and its cooperation with the IAEA and its international partners.

In an interview with the Emirates News Agency (WAM), Al Kaabi explained that the cooperation between the UAE and IAEA, which began in 2008, has achieved many positive outcomes, which ensured the success of the UAE’s peaceful nuclear program and the achievements of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, especially in terms of compliance with the highest nuclear safety and non-proliferation standards.

After the achievements of its peaceful nuclear energy program, the UAE has advanced its cooperation with the IAEA, including sharing its expertise in drafting a peaceful nuclear energy program with the international community, as an inspiring success story in this area, he added.

He then pointed out that the UAE’s careful planning and implementation of its peaceful nuclear energy program, in coordination with its international partners, is not only an achievement for the country, but it is also a success for the entire international nuclear community.

Al Kaabi stressed that the cooperation with the IAEA will mainly focus on the future operations of the UAE’s nuclear energy program, as well as on research and development, and strengthening the relevant capacities of citizen cadres.

The launch of the third unit of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant in Al Dhafra, Abu Dhabi, reflects the significant progress made by the UAE in developing the first multi-plant peaceful nuclear power project in the Arab region, which will significantly assist in accelerating the reduction of carbon-based energy use in the country and achieving climate neutrality by 2050.

This achievement was realized due to the vision of the UAE and its leadership to establish a peaceful nuclear energy program aimed at meeting the country’s future energy needs, he further added, noting that the program is a key milestone in the UAE’s efforts to become the first Arab country to operate a nuclear power plant.

The UAE has three nuclear power plants, and the first two plants have already started their commercial operations and are producing abundant quantities of environmentally-friendly electricity while the third is expected to commence its commercial operations in a few months, Al Kaabi said in conclusion.