PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Monthly Newsletter
Vol.3, Issue 3 March 2014
In this Issue In Focus
2014 Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague – p.1 -3
Other Stories UAE Presents its 2nd National Report to the 6th Review Meeting of the Convention on Nuclear Safety – p. 4-5 International Advisory Board meets in Abu Dhabi to review the UAE nuclear power programme progress – p. 6 UAE shares its practices at the International Experts‟ Meeting on severe accident management – p. 7 UAE stakeholders discuss the importance of nuclear safety and security culture –p. 8 UAE Ambassador welcomes the CNS delegations at the UAE Permanent Mission – p. 9 What’s New in Media Room? IAEA produces a film on UAE Nuclear Power Programme – p. 10 UAE Permanent Mission joins YouTube – p.10 Upcoming events – p.10 Tel: +43 715 0028 Fax: +43 715 0028 - 5555 E-mail: general@uae-iaea.org Web: www.uae-iaea.org
PHOTO: ©NSS2014
2014 Nuclear Security Summit World Leaders Commit to Reduce Continuing Threat of Nuclear Terrorism Fifty-eight world leaders, four international organizations, thousands of delegates and journalists assembled in The Hague to come to a common understanding of the threat posed by nuclear terrorism, to agree on the effective measures to secure nuclear material, and to prevent nuclear smuggling and terrorism at the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit in the Netherlands. High level delegation from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces joined world leaders in the Nuclear Security Summit (NSS), held on 24-25 March in The Hague, Netherlands. The Nuclear Security Summit is a high level international forum focusing on prevention of nuclear terrorism and securing materials that could be used to build nuclear weapons. The 3rd Summit in The Hague brought world leaders to assess the progress achieved
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since the Washington Summit in 2010 and Seoul Summit in 2012. During the Summit, UAE Government reassured allies of its continued commitment to the Summit‟s shared goals of nuclear disarmament, nuclear non-proliferation and peaceful use of nuclear energy. “Terrorism in general, and nuclear terrorism in particular, represent the most important challenges facing the world today, which requires our diligent joint action in order to be able to ward off all forms of this threat,” said His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed in his statement to the Summit.
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Reference Documents of NSS 2014 UAE National Progress Report here <<
In the context of the Summit the UAE government submitted a National Progress Report, which outlines its efforts toward achieving the NSS objectives through strengthening measures on nuclear security at the national level and by means of international cooperation. The UAE progress Report summarizes measures taken by the Government in establishing a legal framework on preventing nuclear terrorism based on international standards in the areas of global nuclear security regime, nuclear materials, radioactive sources, transport security, national capacity building, information security, combatting illicit trafficking, national regulatory regime on nuclear security and safety, as well as International cooperation, particularly stressing the important role of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in this area. "The UAE has taken an active part in the security summits since 2010. These international meetings have made a number of achievements, highlighting the challenges posed by nuclear terrorism which have forced many states to take measures to secure nuclear and radioactive material against the danger of terrorism," the Crown Prince emphasized.
Outcomes of 2014 Nuclear Security Summit Each Summit is aimed at achieving new progress on safeguarding nuclear material. The first summit was concerned with making political agreements, while the follow-up in Seoul focused on the advancements made in implementing those agreements. The third NSS has centered its focus on the results achieved and the future plans.
Results of NSS 2014 here << Joint Initiative on Strengthening Nuclear Implementation here << ‘Gift Baskets’ & other initiatives here << 2014 The Hague Communiqué here << 2012 Seoul Communiqué here << 2010 Washington Work Plan here <<
The third Summit has reached new agreements in the areas of:
reducing the amount of dangerous nuclear material in the world that terrorists could use to make a nuclear weapon (highly enriched uranium and plutonium); improving the security of all nuclear material and radioactive sources (including lowenriched uranium), that can be used to make a „dirty-bomb‟; improving the international exchange information and international cooperation.
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These new agreements are built on the results of earlier summits held in Washington (2010) and Seoul (2012). (continued on page 3)
PHOTO: ©NSS2014
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In addition to the general agreements reached by all 53 participating countries, extra commitments to strengthen nuclear security implementation were made by a number of country groups. A group of 35 countries, including the UAE, have pledged to adopt international security measures and guidelines on the protection of nuclear security materials into their national laws. Particularly, an initiative to incorporate the International Atomic Energy Agencyâ&#x20AC;&#x;s guidelines on the protection of nuclear material into national legislations has been signed by 30 countries, including the UAE. It also was agreed by countries to allow international experts to assess their national security procedures for nuclear material.
H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister meet Mark Rutte, Prime Minister of the Netherlands at the opening of the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague, 25 March (Photo credit: AFP Photo)
On the sidelines of The Hague Summit, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi met with number of leaders to discuss bilateral relations and strategic cooperation. H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan met with Dutch King WilliamAlexander, President of United States Barack Obama, as well as Prime Minister of England David Cameron. The UAE delegation to the 2014 Nuclear Security Summit was led by H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyanâ&#x20AC;&#x;s and included H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, UAE Foreign Minister, and other high-level UAE officials .
H.H. Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed meets Dutch King WillemAlexander during the Nuclear Security Summit in The Hague in the Netherlands (Photo: WAM )
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Convention on Nuclear Safety: UAE Presents its 2nd National Report to the IAEA 6th CNS Review Meeting Nuclear safety has been given principle consideration from the very beginning of the development of the UAE’s nuclear power programme. In its first National Report to the 5th CNS Review Meeting in 2011, the UAE outlined its policy decisions and the measures taken to launch the UAE’s peaceful nuclear power programme. Since then, the UAE has moved forward with the establishment of legislative, regulatory, and administrative measures, as well as other steps taken by the UAE Government to fulfill its obligations as a Contracting Party to the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS). Especially in the given context of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, the UAE extensively carried out activities over the past two years to learn from its lessons, and has outlined an improved safety framework in the second National Report presented to the 6th CNS Review Meeting. On 28 March, the UAE delegation presented the 2nd National Report to the 6th Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties on the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) at the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna, Austria. The Review Meeting took place from 24 March to 4 April, assembling delegations from 75 countries that are Contracting Party to the Convention, to discuss measures taken by their governments to enhance safety framework. The Convention on Nuclear Safety aims to legally commit participating States operating land-based nuclear power plants to maintain a high level of safety by setting international benchmarks to which States would subscribe.
H.E. Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA presents the National Report on compliance with the Convention on Nuclear Safety to the 6th Review Meeting, 28 March, IAEA headquarters Vienna
The UAE‟s Permanent Representative to the IAEA, Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, and other senior officials from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) presented the UAE National Report on compliance with the Convention, which opened panel discussions with delegates from Contracting Parties.
The National Report describes measures the UAE has taken to fulfill its obligations as a Contracting Party to the Convention, with particular focus on the lessons learned from the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan.
The Report also includes a summary of the actions taken by the UAE government to support the IAEA‟s The UAE delegation received a number of questions from Nuclear Safety Action Plan. the contracting parties covering various areas of regulatory and policy development in the UAE nuclear (continued on page 5) safety framework during the panel discussions.
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The UAE National Report is the result of a collective effort of various national organizations including the national regulatory body, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR); the operator, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC); and other leading organizations. “The 6th Review Meeting is an important platform to highlight the contribution the UAE has made to global nuclear safety in particular since the Fukushima accident. As the UAE moves forward with the development of its peaceful nuclear energy programme, the country is keen to participate actively in the CNS review meetings by providing insight on how to strengthen the Convention” highlighted Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi. The UAE National Report has been reviewed by Contracting Parties to the CNS prior to the Review Meeting and has received 111 questions all of which have been answered in detail and made available to parties.
H.E. Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi explains UAE’s progress on the implementation of the Nuclear Safety Convention, IAEA HQ, 28 March
Background The Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) was adopted in Vienna on 17 June 1994. The Convention obliges Parties to submit reports on the implementation of their obligations for "peer review" at meetings of the Parties to be held at the IAEA. This mechanism is the main innovative and dynamic element of the Convention. There are currently 76 Parties to the Convention. United Arab Emirates has been a Party since 2009. The UAE‟s first National Report was presented to the 5th CNS Review Meeting in April 2011, which focused on policy decisions and the measures taken to launch the UAE‟s peaceful nuclear energy programme.
Dr. William Travers, FANR Director General briefs the Contracting Parties on UAE’s regulatory framework on nuclear safety, IAEA HQ, 28 March
Since the 5th Review Meeting, the UAE nuclear programme made a significant progress with the start of the construction of its first two nuclear reactors at Barakah site, Western Region of Abu Dhabi, which is extensively described in the second National Report. Full text of the UAE‟s 2nd National Report to the 6th Review Meeting is available here >>
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International Advisory Board Meets in Abu Dhabi to Review the UAE Nuclear Power Programme Progress Established by the UAE Government, the International Advisory Board (IAB) aims at enhancing the transparency of the country’s peaceful nuclear programme. Twice in a year, the International Advisory Board meets to review the progress of the UAE Nuclear Power Programme. The Eighth meeting of the International Advisory Board (IAB) for the UAE nuclear power programme took place in Abu Dhabi on 10-11 March, headed by the Chairman of the IAB Dr. Hans Blix. The International Advisory Board is a body mandated to provide an independent assessment of the United Arab Emirates‟ Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme. H.E. Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA briefed the Board of the IAB on UAE Government‟s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency. The Board received multiple briefs from main stakeholders including the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). The latest IAB Reports are available on the Board‟s website http://www.uaeiab.ae/publications.php
UAE Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi briefs the IAB Semi-Annual meeting of the IAB in Abu Dhabi, 2010 (Photo: IAB)
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Post Fukushima Efforts: Accident Management UAE Shares its Practices at the International Experts Meeting on Severe Accident Management UAE expert from national nuclear regulatory authority shares the country’s experiences on lessons learned and applied in the safety design of the national nuclear power programme. From 17 to 20 March, more than 200 nuclear experts from forty-eight IAEA Member States assembled at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, to share and learn practices on nuclear crisis management. An International Experts’ Meeting on Severe Accident Management in the Light of the Accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, the seventh in a series of expert meetings plays an important role in facilitating the implementation of IAEA Action Plan on Nuclear Safety. The meeting discussions focused particularly on the issues related to improvements made to severe accident management programmes in light of the Fukushima Daiichi accident, as well as on the regulatory oversight and enforcement of such programmes, and how to effectively integrate on-site and off-site response plans, including a consideration of required training and equipment. A group of UAE experts from the national regulatory body, the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR); and the operator, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), shared experiences of their entities as each national stakeholder has carried out a wide-range of
Plenary of the IEM at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, 17 March (Photo: IAEA)
measures on the enhancement of severe accident management resulting from lessons learned from the accident at Fukushima Daiichi power plant. The UAE government has described in details in its 2nd National Report to the IAEA 6th CNS Review Meeting, the post-Fukushima measures taken as part of its arrangements and regulatory requirements concerning the design and construction of nuclear installations for the national nuclear power programme.
Actions Taken in UAE after the Fukushima Daiichi Accident Nuclear regulator FANR sent immediate request to nuclear operator ENEC to provide a plan describing how ENEC will apply lessons learned from Japan‟s nuclear accident (April 2011); ENEC established Safety Review Task Force Initiatives to evaluate the implementation of applicable lessons learned from the Fukushima accident, and thus to enhance safety features of the proposed nuclear power plant at the Barakah site; FANR requested ENEC to undertake an assessment to determine how recent experience at Fukushima and lessons learned so far may be applied to address any potential safety issues at the proposed Barakah Nuclear Power Plants Units 1 and 2; A detailed report compiling the results of the assessment, including matters related to nuclear safety and radiation protection from ENEC was provided to FANR by 31 December 2011;
The “Safety Assessment Report for Barakah Nuclear Power Plants (Lessons Learned from Fukushima Accident)”was reviewed by FANR as part of ENEC‟s Construction License Application (CLP) for Barakah Nuclear Power Plant Unit 1 & 2. Later FANR made public its Safety Evaluation Report of an Application for a Licence to Construct Barakah Units 1 & 2, available at www.fanr.gov.ae website; The IAEA conducted an Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission in January 2012, to assess the UAE‟s regulatory framework. UAE submitted its 2nd National Report to the IAEA 6th Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS). All national stakeholders continue implementation of the IAEA Nuclear Safety Plan;
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Technical Cooperation to Meet National Needs UAE Stakeholders Discuss the Importance of Nuclear Safety and Security Culture The United Arab Emirates set its date for operation of first nuclear reactor in 2017. As the country is still embarking on a nuclear power programme, the government is developing a comprehensive approach to its nuclear safety and security culture. From 11 to 13 March, UAE national stakeholders participated at the IAEA workshop on Safety and Security Culture in Pre-operational Phases of a Nuclear Power Project held from 11 to 13 March in Abu Dhabi. More than 52 senior officials from UAE organizations engaged in nuclear power programme joined a three-day workshop to discuss the concepts of safety and security culture and means to develop within their organizations. The main course of the workshop addressed issues relating to the frameworks for safety and security culture, roles and responsibilities in cultural improvement efforts as well as Integrated Management System (IMS) in relation to cultural aspects. IAEA experts from the Division of Nuclear Installation Safety and the Division of Nuclear Security provided in-depth knowledge combining two interrelating areas within nuclear power such as safety and security. The workshop was organized within the framework of UAEIAEA Technical Cooperation project on “Supporting the Development of National Nuclear Power Infrastructure for Electricity Generation – Phase II”, to provide the national counterparts with technical expertise. The workshop addressed the understanding of the concept of both safety and security culture, and covered profoundly areas of: Safety culture and its normative framework; Security culture and its normative framework; Roles and responsibilities in cultural improvement work; Integrated Management System in relation to cultural aspects; Safety & Security culture in the national nuclear programme.
Participants of the National Workshop on Safety and Security Culture, Abu Dhabi
FACTS & FIGURES
In 2014, the scope of UAE‟s Technical Cooperation with the IAEA goes through 7 national TC projects;
Areas of national TC projects involve nuclear energy, nuclear safety and security, radioactive waste management, water and the environment, nuclear knowledge development and management
The implementation of UAE‟s national TC projects has succeeded with the highest implementation rate of 96.32% in 2013 in accordance with the IAEA TC Department‟s assessment.
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UAE Ambassador Welcomes the CNS Delegations at the Permanent Mission in Vienna
Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates to the International Atomic Energy Agency hosted a reception for the respected delegates of the IAEA 6th Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS) at its premises in Vienna. A reception hosted by H.E. Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA welcomed respected delegates to the IAEA 6th CNS Review Meeting for an informative social break at the UAE Permanent Mission offices on 28 March. Distinguished guests attending the reception congratulated the UAE on submission of tis second National Report on compliance with the CNS and the solid progress the UAE government achieved in development of its peaceful nuclear programme.
Ambassador Alkaabi in discussion with Mr AndrĂŠ-Claude Lacoste, the Chairman of the 6th CNS Review meeting
Guests included senior officials of the Agency and delegates to the Review Meeting, and the UAE delegation.
Guests at the UAE reception on the occasion of the CNS Review Meeting, UAE Permanent Mission premises
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Upcoming Events PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
What’s New in Media Room? IAEA Produces a Film on UAE Nuclear Programme A five minutes film produced by the IAEA Public Information Division will introduce you with UAE‟s rationale behind the decision to embark on a nuclear power.
24 March – 4 April, 6th Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Nuclear Safety (CNS), Vienna, Austria 8-10 April, 35th Meeting of the Commission on Safety Standards (CSS), Vienna, Austria 31 March- 2 April Meeting between GCC and IAEA to review Regional Nuclear Emergency Plan, Vienna, Austria
It will take you in a journey to Abu Dhabi to witness first-hand progress in construction of the nation‟s first nuclear power plant and conversations with leading experts involved in implementing the nuclear energy programme.
12 April, 8th Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Proliferation and Disarmament Initiative (NPDI) in Hiroshima, Japan
The film is available on: http://www.iaea.org/newscenter/multimedia/videos/nuclearpower/110214/u ae/
UAE Permanent Mission joins YouTube
14-17 April, 6th Meeting of Working Group 1 and Working Group 2 of the Comprehensive Fukushima Report, Vienna, Austria 28-30 April, ARASIA Board Meeting on Technical Cooperation, Vienna, Austria
As part of its social media engagement, the Permanent Mission joins the YouTube, videosharing website. The Mission‟s YouTube channel provides video updates on UAE‟s cooperation with the IAEA, and associated activities, interviews with national and international leading nuclear experts, media coverage, and others.
27-29 April, IAEA National NORM Workshop for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Abu Dhabi, UAE
Our YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/UAEMissionVienna
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
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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 implementation of relevant international obligations.
UAE Permanent Mission to IAEA
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