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October 12, 2008


UAE and US sign pact on nuclear energy

UAE news agency WAM reported that Mr Sheikh Abdulla bin Zayed Al Nahyan foreign minister of UAE and Ms Condoleezza Rice US secretary of state have signed a MoU on cooperation in peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The signing follows the public launch of the detailed policy document by the UAE on the evaluation and potential development of peaceful nuclear energy within the UAE as the best viable alternative to meet the power demand.

Commenting on the signing of the bilateral agreement, Sheikh Abdullah said that "The UAE US MoU represents an excellent example of cooperation the UAE hopes to forge with responsible nuclear supplier states in the area of peaceful nuclear energy. There are potential mutual benefits to both parties from deepening cooperation in the development of the UAE's domestic nuclear energy sector."

He further welcomed the prospect of negotiating a more extensive bilateral agreement for peaceful nuclear cooperation known as Section 123 Agreement in the United States, which would establish the necessary legal basis for trade in significant nuclear commodities between the two countries. It also contains a number of commitments and strategies designed to ensure that these principles would be upheld by any UAE domestic nuclear program, including a pledge to forego any domestic enrichment or reprocessing capability in favor of long term external fuel supply arrangements.

The UAE policy in this respect is based upon the principles of complete operational transparency and the highest standards of safety, security and non proliferation. The first phase of the program will be carried out with foreign assistance, and offer JV arrangements to foreign investors for construction and operation of future nuclear power plants.

Mr Hamad al Kaabi representative of the UAE ministry of foreign affairs for international nuclear cooperation said that "Nuclear power is proving an option that that UAE can not ignore because it's cost competitive." He added that by 2020, natural gas will be insufficient to meet the country's energy requirements.

It may be recalled that in March 2008, UAE announced plans to establish Nuclear Energy Program Implementation Organization, a AED 375 million initiative to evaluate and potentially realize the transparent nuclear energy program within the UAE. It was preceded by an agreement with France to help UAE develop the nuclear capability in January 2008.