"These discussions are still in their early stages but there is a wide area to benefit and exchange knowledge and ideas informally over this issue," Deputy Prime Minister and minister of energy and industry Abdullah Al-Attiyah said at the opening of a forum about peaceful use of nuclear energy in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Many countries are not using nuclear energy, like Qatar, but began considering the nuclear power as an energy source in future, said Al-Attiyah.
He noted the growing importance of nuclear energy and said there were 35 nuclear reactors under construction worldwide to produce around 30,000 megawatts.
However, Al-Attiyah said the use of nuclear energy needed acceptance of the public, sound operation and management of recycling of nuclear wastes.
He said the third-generation nuclear reactors were equipped with excellent safety tools and operation management.
"We believe that governments should consider domestic and international obligations when it comes to the ownership of nuclear energy programs … including active organization regulations for construction and maintenance of nuclear facilities as well as developing the human resources in operation," he said.
UAE minister of energy Mohammad Al-Hamli said the GCC countries realized importance of diversifying energy resources and agreed to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
The UAE government is committed to transparency and safety procedures in cooperation with the IAEA, he said.
