News archive :: Year 2008
21-04-2008 08:35
United Arab Emirates Launched a Program for Nuclear Power Development
Today Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) published a program document titled "Policy of the UAE on peaceful nuclear power" which reflects basic directions of nuclear industry development. According to Sheikh Abdallah ben Zaid Al Nahayan, UAE Foreign Minister, the aim of the program is to supply "growing domestic demand in electric power". He also mentioned that the document may serve as a model for non-nuclear states in peaceful use of nuclear power under full support of international community.
Developing the program, emirates had necessary consultations with International Atomic Energy Agency, and signed Additional Protocol authorizing IAEA inspectors perform close supervision for the program implementation. The program does not include solution for issues of uranium enrichment as nuclear fuel is to be imported from "reliable foreign partners".
This January during the visit of Nicolas Sarcozy, President of France to UAE, agreement was signed for cooperation between the two countries in nuclear power development. This assumes that France will participate in construction of two reactors in UAE for electric power production and water desalination, as ITAR TASS informs.