Abu Dhabi, Apr 21: The UAE has pledged to forego any domestic enrichment or reprocessing of nuclear fuel and will work closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for its proposed nuclear programme to assure the world it remains peaceful.

Releasing the full text of a policy white paper, titled ‘Policy of the United Arab Emirates on the Evaluation and Potential Development of Peaceful Nuclear Energy’, yesterday, Minister of Foreign Affairs Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the government hopes the country will establish a useful model by which all non-nuclear states can be assured of full international backing for their efforts to pursue the benefits of peaceful nuclear energy for their populations.

He said among the notable commitments embodied in the UAE policy on peaceful nuclear energy is a pledge to forego any domestic enrichment or reprocessing capability in favour of long-term external fuel supply arrangements.

The government would also conclude a number of pertinent international agreements, including the IAEA Additional Protocol, the IAEA Convention on Nuclear Safety, the IAEA Amendment to the Convention on the Physical Protection of Nuclear Material, and the IAEA Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management.

The UAE policy document was developed over a period of more than six months and represents the coordinated views of a wide spectrum of UAE government entities, as well as inputs obtained through consultations with the IAEA and the governments of France, the US, the UK, Russia, China, Japan, Germany and South Korea.

Shaikh Abdullah said, “According to the International Monetary Fund, the GDP of the country grew by 9.4 per cent in 2006, and the forecast for the future includes continued robust growth. However, we recognise that this growth will require continued access to affordable energy, and for this reason, the UAE has begun to evaluate the potential contribution of peaceful nuclear energy to its future domestic energy mix.”

“In-depth studies carried out by government entities have shown that nuclear energy represents a commercially competitive and environmentally friendly option for the secure generation of electricity in the UAE, particularly in the light of projected future shortages of natural gas.

“For instance, internal assessments by government entities have shown that the generation of one kilo-watt hour of electricity from a nuclear reactor would cost less than one-third of what it would cost to produce the same kilo-watt hour using a crude-oil fired power plant. At the same time, generating that single kilo-watt hour using a nuclear power plant, rather than a crude oil-fired power plant, would reduce emissions of carbon dioxide by approximately 726 grams.”

Abdullah said, “Although the UAE’s interest in nuclear energy stems exclusively from a desire to meet growing domestic energy demand in a commercially and environmentally responsible manner, the government also hopes that its potential development of peaceful nuclear energy will establish a useful model via which all non-nuclear states can be assured of full international backing for their efforts to pursue the benefits of peaceful nuclear energy for their populations.”

The full policy document was endorsed by the Council of Ministers on March 23, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs had released an executive summary of the document on that date.

Specifically the UAE policy model is based on the principles of complete operational transparency and the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation. Additionally, the UAE policy model calls for close and continuous coordination with the IAEA, as well as with the governments and firms of responsible nuclear supplier nations.

The policy document describes the UAE’s intention to establish the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), which will serve in accordance with the IAEA guidance. The government will form an international advisory board made up of international experts on nuclear safety, security, non-proliferation, and infrastructure development.

Prior to taking any steps toward the establishment of actual nuclear power plants on its territory, the government will establish an independent federal regulatory authority to oversee all aspects related to nuclear energy. In an effort to facilitate cooperation with responsible nuclear supplier states, Hamad Al Kaabi has been appointed the Special Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for International Nuclear Cooperation. Al Kaabi said that the announcement would be made soon after completing the nuclear reactor that would be used of peaceful purposes. “All the parts related to this point are still at a study stage,” said Al Kaabi.