The Federal Law by Decree No. 4 of 2012 concerning civil liability for nuclear damage has been effective since August this year, but on Monday, Hamad Al Kaabi, UAE’s permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency and special representative for International Nuclear Cooperation, revealed details about the law.
“This law was drafted in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage as amended by the 1997 Protocol, which the UAE acceded to in August 2012,” said Al Kaabi.
Under the new law, the operator of a nuclear facility is solely and exclusively liable for damages arising from a nuclear incident. Internationally, this liability is set at 300 million Special Drawing Rights (SDR), but the UAE has set it at 450 million SDR, equivalent to Dh2.5 billion. This is the amount any nuclear operator in the UAE will be obliged to have at any time as insurance.
The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) was named to oversee the implementation of the law, also being in charge of issuing the licences for the construction of nuclear facilities.
“As for the timing and amount for compensation, the limits are set by Vienna Convention and they are different depending on the accident.”
Actions for compensation may only be brought against the operator or the person providing financial security within three years from the date the person is suffering damage had knowledge or ought to have knowledge of the damage.
For loss of life and personal injury, the claim for compensation must be made within 30 years, and for other type of damage, claims must be made within 10 years.
