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Monthly Newsletter January/February 2015 edition: news and highlights on activities between the UAE Government and the Agency, including key events and activities of the Permanent Mission.
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www.uae-iaea.org Page 1
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Monthly Newsletter
In this issue:
In Focus
IAEA Chief Yukiya Amano visits UAE– pp. 1-2
Inside Stories
------------------
In Focus
UAE shares its
experience at the IAEA
infrastructure meeting
in Vienna – p.1
Other Stories
UAE supports a consensus
outcomes at the CNS
Diplomatic Conference –
p.3
UAE hosts meeting of NPDI
Officials in Abu Dhabi – p.4
UAE hosts IAEA‟s IRRS
follow-up mission to review
the progress in
implementing
recommendations – p.5
UAE hosts nuclear energy
briefings with the American
Academy of Arts and
Sciences – p. 6
Khalifa University launches
GNEII Fundamentals
Course – p.7
UAE Ambassador speaks
on Global Nuclear
Governance at the
ISODARCO Winter School in
Italy – p.8
What‟s new in Social
Media? – p.9
Vol.4, Issue 1
January-February 2015
In this Issue
On 3 February 2015, Ambassador
Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent
Representative to the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA),
briefed newcomer and expanding
nuclear power States on progress
made in the development of a
nuclear energy programme in the
UAE during the IAEA Infrastructure
Meeting in Vienna, Austria.
The 9th annual „Technical Meeting on
Topical Issues in the Development of
Nuclear Power Infrastructure‟ was
held at the IAEA headquarters on 3-6
February 2015 to discuss challenges
and common issues.
The meeting brought together around
90 senior managers from national
governments, future owner/operators,
regulatory bodies and other
institutions involved in national
nuclear power programmes from 38
IAEA Member States.
Nuclear Infrastructure Development
Tel: +43 715 0028
Fax: +43 715 0028 - 5555
E-mail: [email protected]
Web: www.uae-iaea.org
Panel discussion during the IAEA annual forum on Nuclear Infrastructure Development, February 2015
UAE Shares its Experience at the IAEA
Infrastructure Meeting in Vienna
This year‟s forum focused on Member
States‟ challenges in prioritizing and
sequencing activities that must be
addressed in the nuclear infrastructure
implementation process.
On the first day of the meeting,
Ambassador Alkaabi joined a panel
discussion on updates from newcomer
countries along with Bangladesh, Belarus
and Vietnam.
The UAE‟s advance progress in the
introduction of nuclear power has been
recognized as a model for other
countries considering the nuclear power
option. The IAEA has been playing a
crucial role in ensuring that the
development of a nuclear power
programme in the UAE is conducted in a
safe, efficient, responsible and
sustainable manner.
www.uae-iaea.org Page 2
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Since the UAE embarked on its nuclear energy programme,
relevant national stakeholders have been actively
participating in IAEA activities and have benefited greatly
from the Agency‟s services toward developing national
infrastructures.
The UAE is keen on not only benefiting from the Agency‟s
services but is also devoted to sharing its best practices and
lessons learned in the process with other Member States.
“UAE experts support IAEA International Peer Review
Services, both through sending local experts to review
missions in other countries and receiving missions to assess
the UAE programme,” Ambassador Alkaabi commented.
The meeting also addressed suggestions and comments
from Member States on revision of the IAEA publication
“Milestones in the Development of a National Infrastructure
for Nuclear Power,” one of the IAEA‟s key guidance
documents for nuclear newcomers. Results from the two-
year process of updating the publication in accordance
with feedback from Member States‟ lessons learned by
newcomers were presented to the meeting participants.
The UAE‟s experience as the first 'newcomer' country
in 27 years to start constructing its first reactor was
emphasized, particularly to share the country‟s
experience with other Member States.
“Strong government commitment, establishing the
legal framework and a competent nuclear regulator,
as well as adopting an innovative procurement
approach all allowed the UAE to advance quickly,”
said Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi in an interview with
the IAEA.
IAEA interview with Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi on
the nuclear infrastructure:
https://www.iaea.org/newscenter/news/consideratio
n-construction-united-arab-emirates-journey-nuclear-
power
Presentations made by the UAE delegation are
available on the meeting webpage:
http://www.iaea.org/NuclearPower/Meetings/2015/2
015-02-03-02-06-NIDS.html
Panel discussion during the IAEA annual forum on nuclear infrastructure development, February 2015
www.uae-iaea.org Page 3
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Enhancing Global Nuclear Safety
UAE supports consensus outcome at the CNS Diplomatic
Conference
A Diplomatic Conference to discuss Switzerland’s proposal on stricter nuclear safety
provisions in the Convention on Nuclear Safety convened in Vienna.
At the 6th CNS Review Meeting
in which took place in April
2014, the majority of
Contracting Parties supported
a Diplomatic Conference to
address a proposal by
Switzerland to amend the
CNS.
From 9 to 13 February 2015,
the Diplomatic Conference
convened at the IAEA
headquarters in Vienna to
discuss the Swiss proposal to
amend the CNS and enhance
the safety of nuclear power
plants throughout the world.
The Vienna Declaration was
put forth as an alternative
consensus outcome when the
Contracting Parties did not
reach a consensus on the
Swiss proposal.
In preparation for the
Diplomatic Conference, an
Informal Working Group (IWG)
convened multiple meetings
in efforts to reach a consensus
outcome.
The Vienna Declaration on Nuclear
Safety has been adopted by the
Contracting Parties by consensus.
The Declaration demonstrates an
ongoing international effort to
strengthen nuclear safety in the
wake of the Fukushima-Daiichi
accident in Japan.
The Declaration contains a series
of principles to guide countries in
Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi leads the UAE delegation at the Diplomatic
Conference at IAEA headquarters in Vienna
the implementation of the objectives of
the CNS.
A summary report of the discussions
was issued after the closing of the
conference.
Find the Vienna Declaration on Nuclear
Safety here:
https://www.iaea.org/sites/default/files
/cns_viennadeclaration090215.pdf
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PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
H.E. Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi meets with NPDI officials at MoFA in Abu Dhabi,
22 January (Photo: MoFA)
UAE hosts meeting of NPDI Officials in Abu Dhabi
The UAE‟s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) hosted a meeting of senior
officials of the 12-member Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative
(NPDI) group on 22 January, in Abu Dhabi.
The NPDI meeting was held to prepare for the 2015 Review Conference of
the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).
During the meeting, the NPDI officials discussed the challenges facing the
NPT review process, as well as the proposals of NPDI members for supporting
the success of the upcoming review conference.
The 2015 NPT Review Conference will be held in April and May at the United
Nations headquarters in New York, USA. The ninth Review Conference since
the first in 1975, the 2015 Review Conference will also mark the 20-year
anniversary of the NPT's indefinite extension agreed to in 1995.
The NPDI is a cross-regional, ministerial-level group focused on developing practical steps
that will take forward the consensus outcomes from the 2010 NPT Review Conference.
Joint Efforts to Promote Global Nuclear
Non-Proliferation
About the NPDI
The NPDI is a cross-regional,
ministerial-level group focused on
practical steps that will take
forward the consensus outcomes
from the 2010 NPT Review
Conference. The members of the
NPDI include Australia, Canada,
Chile, Germany, Japan, Mexico,
the Netherlands, Nigeria, the
Philippines, Poland, Turkey and
the UAE.
2012 NPT Review Conference
The 2015 Review Conference
of the Parties to the Treaty on
the Non-Proliferation of
Nuclear Weapons (NPT) will be
held in 2015 at the United
Nations Headquarters in New
York, USA.
The ninth Review Conference
since the first in 1975, the 2015
Review Conference will also
mark the 20-year anniversary
of the NPT's indefinite
extension agreed to in 1995.
More information on 2015 NPT
Review Conference is
available >> here
www.uae-iaea.org Page 5
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
From 31 January to 8 February, the UAE nuclear regulatory
authority hosted a follow-up mission from the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to review the regulatory
framework for nuclear safety and radiation protection in the
country.
An international team of eleven senior safety experts met
with officials of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation
(FANR) and other involved organizations contributing to
nuclear safety to review achievements since the first IRRS
mission in 2011. The mission took place at the headquarters
of FANR in Abu Dhabi.
The ten-day follow-up IRRS mission reviewed the progress of
the UAE‟s nuclear safety infrastructure in implementing the
recommendations and suggestions proposed during the
2011 IRRS mission.
The 2011 IRRS mission was conducted at the request of the
UAE government from 5-14 December. Good practices in
the UAE safety framework were highlighted and
recommendations were made for the country‟s nuclear
regulatory authority. The final report of the 2011 IRRS mission
is available on the Permanent Mission‟s website here >>
IAEA Peer Reviews to the UAE
UAE hosts IAEA’s IRRS follow-up mission to review the progress
in implementing recommendations
Major IAEA Peer Review Missions in
the UAE
January 2011: Integrated Nuclear
Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission;
(The INIR report is available here >>)
December 2011: International
Regulatory Review Services (IRRS)
mission; (The IRRS mission report is
available here >>)
May 2014: International ISSAC
Advisory Service (ISSAS) mission;
March 2015: Emergency
Preparedness Review Mission (EPREV)
October 2015: Occupational
Radiation Protection Appraisal Service
(ORPAS);
2016: International Physical Protection
Advisory Service (IPPAS)
2016: Preparatory Operational Safety
Review Team (Pre-OSART)
The UAE programme receives review missions from the IAEA in order to obtain valuable
feedback based on its expertise. The International Regulatory Review Services (IRRS)
mission plays an important role in assisting the UAE toward building an appropriate
regulatory infrastructure.
Group photo of international nuclear safety experts, IAEA officials
and FANR specialists during the IRRS follow-up mission in Abu Dhabi,
8 February 2015 (photo: FANR)
IRRS mission team members ………………
www.uae-iaea.org Page 6
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
––
Nuclear Energy Briefings with the American Academy of
Arts and Sciences
From 20-22 January, the UAE hosted in Abu Dhabi a
nuclear energy briefing meeting which focused on a
series of presentations and discussions with experts from
the American Academy of Arts and Science.
The objective of this three-day event was to exchange
knowledge, experience and challenges in the nuclear
sector, specifically in the areas of nuclear safety, nuclear
security, radioactive waste management, nuclear liability
and legal framework, as well as human resource
development and capacity building.
Jointly organized by the faculty of the Global Security
and Energy programme of the Academy and the Federal
Authority for Nuclear Regulation, these briefings gathered
experts and officials from the UAE nuclear energy
programme.
H.E. Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent
Representative to the IAEA, spoke at the opening of the
first briefing session, emphasizing the prospect for regional
nuclear cooperation.
UAE Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi speaks at the nuclear energy briefing in Abu Dhabi, 20
January 2015 (photo: FANR)
The American Academy of Arts and
Sciences
The American Academy of Arts and
Sciences is a champion of
scholarships, civil dialogue, and
useful knowledge. As one of the
oldest independent policy research
centers, the Academy brings
together leaders from the academic,
business and government sectors to
address critical challenges which the
global society actually faces.
The UAE hosted nuclear energy briefings with the American Academy of Arts and Sciences
to exchange knowledge, experience and to learn from challenges facing the nuclear
power industry throughout the world.
Discussions covered areas such as nuclear reactor
technology, nuclear safety, nuclear liability, cyber
security and nuclear security.
Another briefing focused on capacity building and
human resource development in the nuclear field. The
Academy also co-hosted a workshop with the
Association for Regional and International Underground
Storage (ARIUS) on solutions for the back-end of the
nuclear fuel cycle. The small-group format of these
briefings allowed experts from the UAE and from the
Academy to engage directly in productive, substantive
discussions about lessons learned so far from the UAE
experience and from other cases around the world.
Prior to the meetings, the Academy‟s delegation visited
the Barakah site, where the UAE has been working since
2010 on constructing its first nuclear power plant. As the
first plant nears completion, the team was able to gain
insight into the UAE‟s efforts to develop a culture of
safety and security and to engage in public outreach.
www.uae-iaea.org Page 7
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
UAE Nuclear Energy Programme: Capacity Building
Khalifa University launches GNEII Fundamentals Course
On 11 January, the Khalifa University launched the fifth
round of the Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute
(GNEII) Fundamentals Course at its Abu Dhabi campus in
the UAE.
The fourteen-week 2015 GNEII Fundamentals Course
presented an integrated 3S methodology and a systems
approach to nuclear energy, providing Fellows from the
region with a comprehensive understanding of
responsible nuclear energy programmes.
In the framework of the UAE-IAEA 2013-2017 Integrated
Work Plan, the IAEA provides support to GNEII, mainly in
the areas of safeguards and security, and the
sustainability of the programme.
The Khalifa University plays a vital role as an
educational and training institution supporting the
nuclear sector.
With the support of the IAEA, Khalifa University
launched a number of initiatives such as e-learning
portals dedicated to nuclear science and technology,
the Gulf Nuclear Energy Management School, and
other ongoing peer-to-peer consultancies.
In line with national capacity building for the sustainability of the UAE’s nuclear
energy programme, Khalifa University operates the Gulf Nuclear Energy
Infrastructure Institute (GNEII), a regional institute focusing on human resource
development for the nuclear sector. Since its inception in 2011, GNEII offers a
Fundamentals Course which provides instruction on fundamental aspects of a
responsible nuclear energy programme, from critical thinking and basic physical
principles, to social and technical aspects of nuclear safety, safeguards and
security. It also includes historical developments and case studies.
About GNEII
The Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute
(GNEII) was established in 2011 by the Khalifa
University in partnership with Sandia National
Laboratories (Sandia) and Texas A&M University‟s
Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute
(NSSPI). GNEII is an education and research-
based institution that expands nuclear
energy infrastructure knowledge and
expertise in the Middle East, particularly
among professionals working in the region.
GNEII website:
http://www.kustar.ac.ae/pages/gneii
U.S. Assistant Secretary for International Security and Nonproliferation,
Thomas Countryman, speaks to the 2015 GNEII Fundamentals Course
class (Photo: KU)
www.uae-iaea.org Page 8
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Promoting the Global Non-Proliferation Regime
UAE Ambassador Speaks on Global Nuclear Governance at
the ISODARCO Winter School in Italy
On 9 January, H.E. Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE
Permanent Representative to the IAEA, met with
participants of the International School on Disarmament
and Research on Conflicts (ISODARCO), an NGO that
offers a unique international forum on global security
challenges.
The 28th ISODARCO Winter Course on “Global Nuclear
Governance: Actors, Policies and Issues,” was held from
7-14 January in Andalo, Italy.
As keynote speaker, UAE Ambassador Alkaabi
addressed matters in relation to the establishment of an
internationally recognized Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone in
the Middle East to enhance global and regional peace.
He introduced participants to the process established to
achieve this outcome through the implementation of the
Treaty on Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT)
Resolution on the Middle East, including the 1995 NPT
Review and Extension Conference.
Ambassador Alkaabi emphasized the role of regional
and Issue-based Groupings, such as the Non-
Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) and
the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), in global non-
proliferation regime.
Around 80 participants from 24 countries attended
the 2015 ISODARCO Winter School. Lectures focused
on the main elements of the nuclear governance
system, strengths and limitations, and discussed
possible remedies to enhance their effectiveness.
Group photo of the ISODARCO winter course participants in Andalo, Italy (Photo credit: ISODARCO)
www.uae-iaea.org Page 9
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
2-6 March, Board of Governors
(BoG), IAEA headquarters,
Vienna, Austria
15-16 March, meeting of the
International Advisory Board (IAB),
Abu Dhabi, UAE
16-27 March, CTBTO Working
Group B, 44th Session, Vienna,
Austria
What’s New in Social Media?
About the Permanent Mission
The UAE has been a member to the IAEA since 1976. The
Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the International
Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) acts as the main liaison between the
UAE government and the IAEA in Vienna, Austria.
The UAE Permanent Mission was established in 2008. Its objective is
to represent the interests of the UAE government at the IAEA and
to facilitate the UAE‟s engagement and cooperation with the IAEA
in the areas of nuclear safety, nuclear security, non-proliferation
and safeguards, technical cooperation, and the implementation
of relevant international obligations.
Permanent Mission of the United Arab
Emirates to the International Atomic
Energy Agency, Vienna
Chimanistrasse 36,
1190 Vienna, Austria
Tel: (+43 1) 715 00 28
Fax: (+43 1) 715 00 28 – 5555
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.uae-iaea.org
Follow us: @UAE_IAEA @UAE_IAEA
UAE Permanent Mission to IAEA
Permanent Mission is on Flickr
The Permanent Mission employs a variety of social media communications
including Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.
Recently, the Permanent Mission joined Flickr, an online photo
management and sharing website to share its stories through images with
its broad audience. To keep track of the latest activities and events of the
Permanent Mission, we invite you to follow us on our new Flickr page.
Permanent Mission‟s Flickr page:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/uaemissionvienna
