UAE delegation attends IAEA 60 th session of General Conference

August - September 2016 Volume 5 Issue 5 NEWSLETTER INSIDE THIS ISSUE UAE marks 40 th anniversary of cooperation with IAEA p. 3 UAE healthcare expert shares the country s experience p. 9 UAE delegation attends IAEA 60 th session of General Conference A large delegation from the United Arab Emirates participated in the work of the IAEA 60 th General Conference throughout the week. UAE reaffirms its commitments to international standards The national statement delivered by Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi at the plenary of the IAEA 60 th General Conference highlights the progress made on the nation s peaceful nuclear energy Read more on p. 2 Read more on p. 2 UAE Hosts an Exhibition of its Nuclear Energy Programme For the fifth year, the UAE delegation to the IAEA sessions of General Conference hosts an exhibition on the margins of the IAEA 60 th General Conference. Side-event: Women in All Things Nuclear UAE Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, together with leading female representatives of FANR and ENEC joins the side-event Women in All Things Nuclear: Women at the IAEA over the Last 60 Years. Read more on p. 8 Read more on p. 4 September 2016 Newsletter 1

IAEA 60 TH GENERAL CONFERENCE Highlights from the 60 th session of the IAEA General Conference The 60 th session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has taken place in Vienna from 26 to 30 September 2016. The session has been attended by more than 3,000 delegates from its 168 Member States. A large delegation of the United Arab Emirates, headed by H.E. Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA took part in the events devoted to the 60 th Anniversary of the Agency. Representatives of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and its subsidiary Nawah Energy Corporation, as well as UAE Permanent Mission team t, participated in the work of the Conference throughout the week. Highlights from the 60 th session of the IAEA General Conference Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi delivers a national statement to the IAEA 60 th General Conference The national statement delivered by Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi at the plenary of the General Conference highlighted the progress made on the nation s peaceful nuclear energy programme, since its deployment in 2008. This year marks the 40th anniversary since the UAE joined the IAEA and started a successful partnership of cooperation for which we express appreciation to the Agency in providing the opportunity to cooperate with the UAE in more than 170 Taechnical Cooperation projects, said in his speech Ambassador Alkaabi. Today, more than 60 national stakeholders from the UAE participates in various IAEA programmes and projects. Since 2011, we have recorded more than 3200 UAE participants in the Agency s activities. The UAE hosted more than 120 IAEA activities in the UAE since 2011, including workshops and conferences, he highlighted. >> Read full text September 2016 Newsletter 2

40 YEARS COOPERATION OF UAE AND IAEA This year marks the 40 th anniversary of the cooperation between the UAE Government and International Atomic Energy Agency towards peaceful use of nuclear energy. The UAE has enjoyed a strong partnership with the IAEA since it became a Member State in 1976. Cooperation with the agency grew in a steady pace in the past 40 years reaching a comprehensive level today. On 27 September, the IAEA staff and conference delegates celebrated with the UAE delegation the 40 th anniversary of cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and the International Atomic Energy Agency. A side-event was hosted by the UAE Mission on the margins of the IAEA 60 th General Conference, to highlight the Agency s Support to UAE as a Newcomers to Nuclear Powe Ambassador Alkaabi presents a gift to Yukiya Amano that symbolises the close nuclear cooperation on the occasion of 40 years anniversary of successful partnership, 27 September 2016 Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA welcomed the distinguished guests with opening remarks. We are pleased and thankful for the support of the IAEA throughout these years, that enabled UAE to meet the highest standards and adopt best practices, and to set an example for a successful nuclear power programme deployment, said Ambassador Alkaabi. Distinguished guest speakers highlighted the many achievements and fruitful cooperation including: Mr Yukiya, Amano IAEA Director General; Christer Viktorsson, FANR Director General; Dohee Hahn, Director for IAEA s Nuclear Power Division; and Hanane Zejly, Deputy Director Capacity Building and Training at ENEC. Mr Yukia Amano noted that the Agency looks forward to continued work with the UAE as the country moves into commissioning and operation, and to continue this partnership journey which has been growing over the past 40 years. On the occasion of partnership anniversary, Ambassador Alkaabi presented a gift to Yukiya Amano that symbolises the close partnership in the nuclear technology over last 40 years. September 2016 Newsletter 3

AE Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi (center), Ms. Huda Altamimi, FANR (left center), and Hasna Ablooshi, UAE Nawah Energy Company (right enter) during the side-event panel dicussions on the roel of womn in nuclear industry, 27 September Women in All Things Nuclear Increasing Role of Women in UAE Nuclear Energy Sector On the second day of the 60 th IAEA General Conference, UAE Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, Permanent Representative to the IAEA, together with leading female representatives of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) joined the side event Women in All Things Nuclear: Women at the IAEA over the Last 60 Years, a forum co-sponsored by the Vienna Center for Disarmament and Non-Proliferation (VCDNP). After being held four years in a row, the round table event focused this year on the evolution of women s contribution in the nuclear field. Guests and participants discussed the challenges and opportunities that exist for women to enhance the mission of Atoms for Peace and Development. Ambassador Alkaabi was a keynote speaker at the event, along with leading female nuclear experts from the UAE nuclear energy sector. He emphasized the important role that women play in building-up the highly skilled nuclear workforce in the UAE. In his speech, Ambassador Alkaabi introduced participants to the current trend of female professionals joining the nuclear industry in the UAE. More than twenty percent of the UAE nuclear operator s skilled professional staff comprises women; and high percentages of women are joining nuclear training programs in the UAE. Today, talented females make up a significant part of the UAE s growing workforce, and national entities involved in the UAE nuclear power programme are taking steps to encourage even more women to join the country s nuclear industry. September 2016 Newsletter 4

Side-Event on Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA, along with other eight Contracting Parties, co-hosted a side-event on Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, on 27 September to help coordinate discussion on the benefits of the Treaty. Other co-sponsors include: Argentina, India, Japan, Montenergro, Morocco, Romania, and United States. The UAE has been at the forefront of efforts to develop an advance international nuclear liability regime, and joined the CSC in July 2014, having previously concluded other relevant international instruments that govern this area. The UAE Federal Law No 4 of 2012, Concerning Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage was established to determine civil liability and compensation for nuclear damage in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It represents a transposition into UAE law of obligations contained in nuclear liability conventions and incorporates the fundamental principles contained in those conventions Download the text of Federal Law by Decree No. 4 of 2012 concerning Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage Speaking at the event, Ambassador Alkaabi said: The Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, having entered into force in April 2015, offers a overarching mechanism for establishing a global nuclear liability regime. The CSC aims at increasing the amount of compensation available in the event of a nuclear accident through public funds to be made available by the Contracting Parties on the basis of their installed nuclear capacity and UN rate of assessment. It also aims at establishing treaty relations among States that belong to the Vienna Convention on Civil Liability for Nuclear Damage, the Paris Convention on Third Party Liability in the Field of Nuclear Energy or neither of them, while leaving intact the 1988 Joint Protocol that establishes treaty relations among States that belong to the Vienna Convention or the Paris Convention UAE has joined the 1997 Protocol to Amend the Vienna Convention and joined the CSC in July 2014 UAE Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi speaks at the side-event on Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, 27 September The UAE law regulates the provisions and determines the scope of civil liability and compensation in the event of a nuclear accident in the country, As well as determining that nuclear facility operators are solely and exclusively liable for damages arising from a nuclear accident, whether or not the operator is at fault, it also sets a limit on the operator's liability of 450 million Special Drawing Rights), equivalent to roughly 2.5 billion UAE dirhams or $694 million. September 2016 Newsletter 5

STRENGTHENING BILATERAL COOPERATONS UAE Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation with IAEA in areas of nuclear safety, security, safeguards In the course of the Conference week, the UAE delegation held a number of bilateral meetings with the IAEA senior officials. The meeting with IAEA Director General Mr. Yukiya Amano addressed the strong on-going cooperation between the Agency and the UAE on the country s peaceful nuclear energy programme. Mr. Amano congratulated the UAE with the construction progress of all four Units of Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. He also underlined that the IAEA will continue to provide its expertise and technical advice for the successful implementation of the UAE s programme. A series of bilateral meetings were also held with Directors of the IAEA's Departments of Nuclear Safety and Security, Nuclear Energy, Safeguards, and Technical Cooperation, providing an update of the country's progress and the scope of future collaboration. The UAE delegation met with a number of other countries delegations with a purpose of strengthening bilateral cooperation in the nuclear field. Bilateral meeting between the UAE delegation headed by H.E. Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi and IAEA Director General Mr. Yukiya Amano Having bilateral agreements already in place with a number of these countries, discussions were focused on future areas of cooperation, as well as recent progress, developments and challenges in respective nuclear power programmes. September 2016 Newsletter 6

UAE Delegation Briefs U.S. Industry Delegation on UAE s Nuclear Power Project UAE Delegation joins Senior Regulator s Meeting UAE Delegation briefs the U.S. Industry delegation on the construction progress of UAE s first nuclear power plant at the U.S. Industry Forum hosted on margins of the 60th General Conference On 26 September, the UAE delegation met with U.S. Industry Delegation to the IAEA s 60 th General Conference to discuss the country s nuclear power programme progress and exchange ideas on current status and cooperation areas. The U.S. Industry delegation gathered a wide number of U.S. companies, providing a platform for the UAE delegation to discuss and share ideas with industry leaders, scientists, and technology innovators who aspire to entering into new partnerships for the country s peaceful nuclear energy programme. As a guest speaker at the Forum, H.E. Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi briefed the U.S. industry delegation on current developments in the UAE nuclear energy programme in terms of nuclear power plant progress progress regulatory aspects, technology, policy standards, and also on the already established U.S.- UAE partnership in the framework of the country s programme. Christer Viktorsson (right), FANR Director General, and Ian Gant (left), FANR Deputy Director General of Operations Division, attend the Senior Regulator s Forum during the 60th General Conference Members of the UAE delegation from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) joined the annual Senior Regulator s Meeting, organized by the Agency during the General Conference, to share country experiences on current regulatory issues. The meeting also hosted Government officials involved in regulatory matters in the fields of nuclear, radiation, transport and radioactive waste safety and nuclear security. FANR officials have actively engaged in the Senior Regulators Forum over the last few years. FANR participation contributed towards the goal of achieving and sustaining a high level of nuclear safety, as well as learning from the experiences of other Members States and sharing practices in the development of national regulatory infrastructures. For more information visit FANR website at www.fanr.gov.ae ENEC officials also presented to participants the current status on the construction of all four units of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant and highlighted recent milestones accomplished on-site. September 2016 Newsletter 7

UAE HOSTS EXHIBITION UAE Delegation Hosts an Exhibition on the Nuclear Power Programme For the fifth year, the UAE delegation to the IAEA sessions of General Conference hosted an exhibition entitled UAE Nuclear Power Programme: A Model for Peaceful Nuclear Energy at the Vienna International Centre (VIC) on the margins of the IAEA 60 th General Conference. Featuring an insightful overview of the progress made on the UAE nuclear energy programme, the exhibition highlighted the major millstones achieved in the development of the country s peaceful nuclear programme, which began in 2008. Launched by the UAE Permanent Mission to the IAEA in close cooperation with key national stakeholders: the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), the exhibition presented the path by which the UAE decided to embark on a nuclear power programme and its strategy for developing this programme based on the best international standards. This year s exhibition also offered to its visitors a photo booth where visitors had an opportunity to wear the helmets and safety jackets form UAE s Barkah Nuclear Power Plant site on a virtual tour to the construction site. The UAE s exhibit, among other exhibitions by the nuclear industry and Governments of twenty countries, was open to over 3,000 delegates that were participating in the General Conference, NGOs, media representatives, and daily visitors of the VIC. September 2016 Newsletter 8

SCIENTIFIC FORUM: NUCLEAR TECHNOLOGY FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS UAE Healthcare Expert shares the country s experience Jamila Al-Suwaidi is Consultant Medical Physicist at the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) in the UAE. She is also Project Director for managing scientific projects and research related to radiation medicine and Chair of the DHA Radiation Protection Committee Sciences in 2014. Dr. Jamila Al Suwaidi, Medical Physicist at the Dubai Health Authority during a panel dicsussion oft he Scientific Forum WHAT S NEW IN SOCIAL MEDIA? On 28-29 September, the IAEA s Scientific Forum: Nuclear Technology for the Sustainable Development Goals, hosted on margins of the General Conference brought together experts and scientists to showcase how nuclear techniques are used to improve human and animal health, and protect the planet. The UAE expert Dr Jamila Al-Suwaidi, Consultant Medical Physicist from Dubai Health Authority (DHA) shared her experience as a keynote speaker during the session on Health and Well-being: Global Access to Radiation Medicine. Dr. Jamila presented to the forum participants her experience on international cooperation for healthcare, especially on improving radiation medicine in UAE. In the framework of the session s discussions on how radiation medicine can contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, participants explored the potential of nuclear medicine, medical equipment and services. On the occasion of 40 years of fruitful cooperation between the UAE and the IAEA, a short video highlights the achievements of the partnership. See the new video to learn more about the country s accomplishments since it became the IAEA Member State in 1976. Link to video below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnvn7or F5Xk September 2016 Newsletter 9

About the Permanent Mission The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has been a Member State of the IAEA since 1976. Established in 2008, the Permanent Mission of the UAE to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) acts as the main liaison between the UAE Government and the IAEA in Vienna, Austria. In line with the UAE s development of a nuclear power programme, the Permanent Mission s main objective is to represent the interests of the UAE Government at the IAEA, and to facilitate the country s engagement and cooperation with the Agency 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: general@uae-iaea.org Website: www.uae-iaea.org Follow us: @UAE_IAEA @UAE_IAEA UAEMissionVienna @UAE_IAEA September 2016 Newsletter 10