This is to meet future demand projections and to ensure the continued rapid development of the country’s economy, UAE Foreign Minister H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan affirmed here today.
“Analysis conducted by official UAE entities has concluded that national annual peak demand for electricity is likely to triple by 2020, reflecting a cumulative annual growth rate of roughly 9% from 2007 onward. In evaluating different options to meet this demand, nuclear energy emerged as a proven, environmentally promising and commercially competitive option which could make a significant contribution to the UAE’s economy and future energy security,”
Sheikh Abdullah said in address before the International Conference on Access to Civil Nuclear Energy, held at the premises of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), in Paris. “Many steps has been taken to fulfill UAE international obligations in areas of nuclear safety , security and non-proliferation and in accordance with its policy commitments; including the signing of the Additional protocol to the compressive safeguards agreement, and the accession to the Convention on Nuclear Safety,”Sheikh Abdullah added in his address which was read on his behalf by H.E. Dr Anwar Mohammed Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
“In December 2009, and in a historical step, UAE, through Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation awarded a contract to Korean consortium to build 4 nuclear power reactors in the UAE with the first being scheduled to be operational in 2017. The contract scope covers the design, construction and the joint operation of the plants. It is important to note that this is the first time in the nuclear industry where a full scope contract is awarded that covers the operation responsibility for the life time of the plant, the UAE foreign minister added.
