UAE, US nuclear bodies in co-operation deal

The UAE Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) of the United States have signed a co-operation arrangement for the exchange of technical information and cooperation in nuclear safety, security, and safeguards matters at the NRC's headquarters in Washington, D.C.

This arrangement was made within the framework of the bilateral nuclear c-ooperation (123) agreement between the governments of the UAE and the US, and implemented on December 17, 2009.

UAE's civilian nuclear energy programme upholds the highest standards of safety, security, nonproliferation and operational transparency. Government officials, nonproliferation advocates, and energy experts worldwide have called the UAE approach a gold standard for countries interested in exploring nuclear energy for the first time.

The FANR-NRC co-operation arrangement will allow the exchange of technical information relating to the regulation of safety, security, safeguards, and environmental impact of nuclear energy facilities.

The scope of the arrangement also covers a joint safety research exchange, as well as nuclear safety training for personnel.

The signing ceremony was attended by Yousef Al Otaiba, UAE Ambassador to the US, and other UAE officials.

Al Otaiba said: "This Cooperation Arrangement is a major milestone that will strengthen the mutual co-operation between the UAE and the US in the areas of nuclear safety, security, and safeguards."

Dr Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the FANR's Board of Management, said: "This arrangement represents FANR's commitment to establish a strong nuclear sector foundation through the exchange of vital information with nuclear regulators in other countries."

The arrangement was signed by Dr William Travers, Director General of FANR, and The Honorable Gregory B Jaczko, Chairman of the NRC.

This is the second Co-operation Arrangement that FANR has signed for technical information exchange, the first was with the Korean Institute of Nuclear Safety (KINS) on May 25 this year.

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