PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Monthly Newsletter
Vol.4, Issue 3 April – May 2015
In this Issue In Focus UAE Presents Status of Spent Fuel and Radioactive Waste Management at Review Meeting of the Joint Convention – p. 1-2
Expert Interview IAEA expert views on UAE
Nuclear Power Infrastructure– p. 6-7
Plenary of the IAEA 5th Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention (Photo: Dean Calma/IAEA)
Spent Nuclear Fuel and Radioactive Waste Management
Other Stories 2015 NPT Review Conference Concludes – p.3 Third Coordination Meeting on UAE Integrated Work Plan for Nuclear Power Programme – p. 4-5 UAE and Contracting Parties celebrate the CSC entry into force – p. 8 Meeting on Pre-Project Assistance and Project Design for the ARASIA project concepts for 2016 – 2017 – p.9 International Experts’ Meeting on assessment and prognosis in response to a nuclear or radiological emergency – p. 10
Tel: +43 715 0028 Fax: +43 715 0028 - 5555 E-mail: general@uae-iaea.org Web: www.uae-iaea.org
UAE presents status of spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste management at Review Meeting of the Joint Convention On 14 May 2015, the UAE presented the status of its plans for managing spent nuclear fuel and radioactive waste during a meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria. The Fifth Review Meeting of the Contracting Parties to the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management took place from 11 to 22 May. As a Contracting Party, the UAE had submitted its Second National Report to the Review Meeting, outlining the progress made since the last review meeting in regards to its obligations under the Joint Convention. (continued on page 2)
www.uae-iaea.org
The 2nd National Report is made public on FANR website (read full text)
Page
1
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano (centre) addressed the participants at the closing session of the Fifth Review Meeting of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and on the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, which concluded at the IAEA's headquarters in Vienna on 22 May 2015. (Photo: G. Siraky/IAEA)
The UAE’s First National Report was submitted in May 2012, which described the basic policy and legal framework being established by the UAE for spent fuel management and radioactive waste management (read full text). The UAE’s presentation of its Second National Report delivered a detailed overview on progress made since the last Review Meeting. It outlined the regulatory framework so far established to protect UAE residents and the environment from radiological and other hazards potentially posed by spent nuclear power plant fuel and radioactive waste. The presentation also described the UAE’s strategy and plans for managing radioactive waste and spent fuel prior to its disposal. The UAE delegation was led by H.E. Ambassador Hamad Alkaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA, and supported by senior experts from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR).
Throughout the two weeks, the UAE delegation participated actively in the discussions of its own country group, as well as group sessions of other Contracting Parties, posing questions and sharing its experience. More than 600 delegates from 61 Contracting Parties discussed measures to enhance the level of safety in radioactive waste and spent fuel management, and deliberated on national strategies towards the implementation of the Convention’s obligations. Some of the major points highlighted during the Review Meeting included staffing, implementing holistic management strategies and increasing public engagement. The Joint Convention aims to achieve and maintain the highest level of safety in facilities for the disposal of spent fuel from nuclear power plants and radioactive waste. It pursues the establishment and maintenance for long term measures to safeguard against potential hazards with radiological impact in such disposal facilities.
www.uae-iaea.org
Page
2
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
2015 NPT Review Conference The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is the core component of the global non-proliferation regime and establishes a comprehensive, legally-binding framework for the global elimination of nuclear weapons. The 2015 Review Conference of the Parties to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) convened from 27 April until 22 May 2015 at the United Nations headquarters in New York, the United States. More than 190 States Parties, as well as observer States, worked to assess the implementation of the Treaty’s provisions. They were joined by over 1,000 non-governmental representatives from 121 organizations from around the world, primarily representing a range of peace and disarmament interests. Minister of State, Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, headed the UAE delegation, which also included the UAE Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Hamad Al-Kaabi, and UAE Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Lana Zaki Nusseibeh. In his statement to the conference, Dr. Al Jaber emphasized that stemming from its commitment to ensuring global peace and security, the UAE attaches high importance to the Treaty on the Non-proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. He highlighted that the UAE supports the right of countries to the peaceful use of nuclear energy while adhering to the principle of transparency and abiding by the highest standards of security and safety, citing the UAE peaceful nuclear energy program as a role model. Minister Al Jaber further emphasized the importance of reinforcing the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) capacity to support the expansion of peaceful nuclear programs, calling for developing measures to strengthen the objectives of the Non-Proliferation Treaty, including the adoption of the Additional Protocol to the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. The Minister stressed the need to adopt practical steps toward establishing a nuclear weapons free zone in the Middle East. The UAE delegation provided the Government’s views through several national statements, and the joint-submission of various working papers relating to different aspects of nuclear disarmament, nonproliferation, and the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. The conference failed, however, to adopted a final consensus document as a result of dispute over the way forward in establishing a Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zones (NWFZ)in the Middle East.
www.uae-iaea.org
Plenary of the 2015 NPT Review Conference in New York
NPT five-year Review Cycle 2010: NPT Review Conference, New York, USA 2012: NPT Preparatory Committee, Vienna, Austria 2013: NPT Preparatory Committee, Geneva, Switzerland 2014: NPT Preparatory Committee, New York, USA 2015: NPT Review Conference, New York, USA
All official documents of the Conference available here http://www.un.org/en/conf/npt/2015/workingpapers.shtml
Page
3
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Developing Nuclear Power Infrastructure
Third Coordination Meeting on the UAE Integrated Work Plan for its Nuclear Power Programme Since the development and adoption of the UAE Integrated Work Plan (IWP) in 2013, the IAEA expert’s team meets annually with national counterparts. The coordination meeting, which takes place at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, reviews the progress in the implementation of the IWP and when required, updates the plan in accordance with recommendations from international experts and IAEA missions. The third annual meeting to review the status of the implementation of an Integrated Work Plan (IWP) for building nuclear power infrastructure in the United Arab Emirates took place from 15 to 16 April 2015, at the IAEA’s headquarters in Vienna. The 2015 IWP Coordination Meeting brought together representatives from the relevant UAE institutions and IAEA technical experts. The meeting reviewed the progress achieved in 2014 by national counterparts, in respect to developing nuclear power infrastructure. The UAE counterparts included representatives of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), Khalifa University
and the UAE Permanent Mission. During this twoday coordination meeting, participants discussed the progress in the national nuclear power programme and reviewed the implementation of the agreed-upon IWP activities and also finalized future plans for IAEA assistance to the UAE programme. The IAEA team expressed appreciation for the opportunity to work with the UAE on newly developed tools such the IAEA peer reviews and learn in a process how these tools would work in practice, in light of assisting newcomer countries in the development of a nuclear energy programme.
www.uae-iaea.org
Page
4
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
“We thank the UAE for sharing its experience on developing a nuclear energy programme. There are many countries looking at the UAE’s experience and approach,” said Anne Starz, IAEA Nuclear Energy Department. The IWP meeting specifically reviewed the implementation of activities under the IWP in 2014, which constitutes 24 activities in accordance with the Key Infrastructure Issues under the IAEA Milestones Approach. These activities include the Agency’s assistance to the UAE nuclear power programme through review missions and capacity building in the areas of nuclear safety, safeguards, regulatory framework, radiation protection, human resources development, environmental protection, emergency planning, security and physical protection and radioactive waste management.
The IAEA experts noted advanced progress on the implementation of the IWP, which already achieved milestones planned for 2015.
The UAE hosted a number of review missions including the Integrated Regulatory Review Service follow-up mission in January 2015 and an Emergency Preparedness Review Service mission in March Activities implemented under the 2015.
“
UAE Integrated Work Plan had tripled in 2014 in comparison to the previous year and more than 70% of these activities were supported through IAEA Technical Cooperation projects. The UAE national TC Programme is one of the successful technical cooperation collaborations in the region. ~ Najat Mokhtar, TCAP Director
The initial IWP was signed between the UAE and IAEA on 5 June 2013, to support the implementation of the national nuclear power programme. All activities, issues and the five-year work schedule outlined under the IWP 2013-2017 are integrated within national Technical Cooperation (TC) projects. The last IWP work-plan updated was in February 2014.
Group Photo of UAE delegation and IAEA staff during the 3rd IWP Coordination Meeting at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna, 15 April (Photo: IAEA)
www.uae-iaea.org
Page
5
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
UAE Nuclear Power Infrastructure: Expert Interview IAEA Expert Talks about UAE Nuclear Energy Programme
Anne Starz, IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy (Photo: T. Yasar, IAEA)
The close partnership between the UAE and the IAEA helped the country to develop a national nuclear infrastructure in line with the Agency’s Milestones Approach. Currently, the UAE has reached the last phase, Milestone 3, with its three nuclear reactors under construction. Anne Starz, Acting Section Head for Nuclear Infrastructure Development of the IAEA Department of Nuclear Energy, tells us more about the IAEA support to the UAE nuclear power programme: tools made available by the Agency to support the national nuclear infrastructure development, the Agency’s view on the country’s approach and elements of success towards the peaceful use of nuclear energy.
With no existing nuclear expertise at the time of its decision to pursue nuclear energy, the UAE government has set itself a challenge to deploy a national programme in line with international standards, especially in such a complex field. What is the IAEA’s assessment today of the UAE’s nuclear power infrastructure as a nuclear newcomer and the current progress made on construction of its first Nuclear Power Plant? The UAE has been cooperating closely with the IAEA on developing a national nuclear power programme and has generally followed IAEA guidance, as documented in the IAEA publication "Milestones in the Development of a National Infrastructure for Nuclear Power" (IAEA Nuclear Energy Series NG-G-3.1). This holistic approach includes three phases (decideprepare-construct) and three milestones (hence the name) to be achieved by a country in developing its nuclear infrastructure, while considering 19 infrastructure issues to be addressed in each phase, for example national position, nuclear safety, legislative and regulatory frameworks, human resource development, stakeholder involvement and others.
In January 2011, the UAE hosted an IAEA Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) mission. An INIR mission is a holistic review of a country’s nuclear power programme conducted by a team of IAEA and international experts. This mission was held successfully and found that the status of infrastructure was in good shape for that stage of the nuclear power development. Between 2011 and now, several other IAEA review services have supported the UAE’s programme, such as the Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS), the Emergency Preparedness Review Service (EPREV), an IAEA Safeguards Advisory Service Mission (ISSAS), and others with similar results.
The IAEA plays an important role in assisting Member States that are starting nuclear power programmes, including the UAE. What are the areas in which the IAEA can provide assistance to the UAE in developing/advancing its national nuclear infrastructure, especially as the UAE moves to the Operation and Commissioning phase? As I said earlier, the UAE nuclear power programme is consistent with the Milestones approach and has close cooperation with the IAEA. (continued on page 7)
www.uae-iaea.org
Page
6
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
On average, there are more than 30 activities between the IAEA and the UAE per year.
One way the UAE has demonstrated its leadership is by making the results of its INIR mission public.
Currently, as the UAE prepares for commissioning, the IAEA is providing support in particular on the readiness of the operating organization, regulatory body, and emergency preparedness organization as well as others. for the operation of the nuclear power plant.
The INIR Mission in 2011 identified several areas where the UAE approach has achieved good practices for other countries starting nuclear power programmes to consider. These good practices include, for example, cooperation without compromising the independence between the regulatory bodies and utility, human resource development, a wellstructured integrated management system, and a strong safety culture.
Some of the most important activities are peer review services, which bring together international experts to discuss aspects of a country’s nuclear programme and make recommendations for further progress. The UAE has agreed to pilot an INIR mission, scheduled for 2016, as a last review of the UAE’s nuclear infrastructure development and the readiness for operation, before the first reactor at the Barakah site will be commissioned.
Have there been any new tools that the IAEA has used for the first time on the UAE's nuclear power project and could the UAE’s approach be recommended to other countries embarking on a nuclear power programme for the first time? It is fair to say that the IAEA has also benefited greatly from this cooperation; as the UAE is the first country in 28 years to start construction on a first nuclear power plant, we have worked closely with the UAE to understand how countries starting programmes today are responding to different challenges than in the past. The UAE is at the leading edge of these “nuclear newcomers” and has been actively sharing its experiences with the IAEA and the international community.
The UAE has also implemented an extensive stakeholder involvement programme that provides transparency and confidence for the general public.
Your office interacts with many newcomer countries. What are your impressions surrounding the UAE experience and where/how can the UAE experience support the IAEA and other Member States? The IAEA has been supporting the UAE in building its nuclear infrastructure, but the IAEA is also being supported by the UAE. Experts from the UAE are participating in many IAEA technical meetings and workshops where they share valuable information and experiences with other Member States. The UAE and the Agency are also cooperating on preparing a Case Study document, to be published by the IAEA, on the UAE experience in building its national nuclear infrastructure. This case study explains the approaches adapted by the UAE to be successful in developing a safe, secure and sustainable nuclear power programme.
As the IAEA developed or adapted its services and guidance to respond to the needs of countries starting nuclear power programmes, the UAE has been one of the first to use these services and tools, as the “newcomer” with the most advanced NPP project.
www.uae-iaea.org
Page
7
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Establishing Global Nuclear Liability Regime UAE and Contracting Parties celebrate the entry into force of the Convention on Supplementary Compensation The Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) is an international treaty which was developed as an overarching umbrella for international liability conventions, supporting the goal of a global nuclear liability regime. On April 15, the Convention on Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage (CSC) entered into force with the joining of Japan to the Convention. As Japan became the 6th Contracting State of the Convention, Parties gather at the UN headquarters in Vienna to celebrate its entry into force. The event to mark this historical moment for the Convention was co-organized by the Permanent Missions of all six original Contracting Parties: Argentina, Japan, Morocco, Romania, the United Arab Emirates and the United States of America. The celebration was marked with “KagamiBiraki”, the sake-barrel breaking ceremony, an old Japanese tradition that symbolizes the importance of this event. “International nuclear liability conventionssuch as the CSC, provide a framework which is consistent with the UAE’s devoted (repeated word) approach in developing a responsible nuclear energy programme,” said Ambassador Alkaabi during the opening remarks of the event. The UAE ratified the CSC on 17 July 2014. The CSC aims at establishing a worldwide liability regime to supplement and enhance measures provided in the current nuclear liability conventions, with a view to increase the scope and amount of compensation available for nuclear damage.
Ambassadors of six original State Parties to the CSC join hands after the Sake-Barrel breaking ceremony, IAEA headquarters in Vienna, 15 April (Photo: Japanese Mission)
www.uae-iaea.org
Page
8
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
Pre-Project Assistance and Project Design for the ARASIA Project Concepts for 2016-2017 IAEA Member States from the ARASIA region and IAEA staff of the Technical Cooperation department meet to review newly designed TC projects and define future activities. UAE national stakeholders took part in the Regional Meeting on Pre-Project Assistance and Project Design for the ARASIA (Asia and the Pacific) Project Concepts for 2016-2017, held at the IAEA headquarters in Vienna from 31 March to 1 April 2015. More than 40 national coordinators from nine countries under the ARASIA agreement worked together with the IAEA Secretariat on finalization of the design of five proposed project concepts for the region, which were submitted afterwards for the TC Programme cycle 2016-2017. The UAE participates in ARASIA projects focusing on areas such as upgrading the competence of Regulatory bodies; human resource
development in emergency response and preparedness; supporting the development of quality management system for SSDLs; investigation of air pollutants in urban environments; and enhancing crop and biomass production and reducing land and water quality degradation. UAE counterparts from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority (NCEMA) contributed to the meeting's discussions related to emergency preparedness and response as well as on SSDL. These new designed projects are in the finalization phase, and are planned to start in January 2016.
Group photo of the meeting participants from ARASIA countries and IAEA staff, Vienna (Photo: IAEA)
www.uae-iaea.org
Page
9
PERMANENT MISSION OF THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES TO THE INTERNATIONAL ATOMIC ENERGY AGENCY VIENNA
UAE Provides Experts to the IAEA International Experts’ Meeting on Assessment and Prognosis in Response to a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency From 20 to 24 April, a UAE delegation from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) shared the organization’s experience in developing its national assessment and prognosis capabilities in response to a nuclear or radiological emergency during an international experts’ forum in Vienna.
Upcoming Events June 8-12, IAEA Board of Governors, Vienna Austria June 22-26, CTBTO Science and Technology Conference, Vienna, Austria
Organized by the IAEA, the International Experts’ Meeting on Assessment and Prognosis in Response to a Nuclear or Radiological Emergency brought together around 200 participants from more than 70 IAEA Member States and international organizations to discuss issues, challenges and solutions related to the assessment and prognosis process in response to a nuclear or radiological emergency. The UAE participants shared the Regulator’s perspective in the development of a radiological and nuclear emergency dose assessment programme in an embarking nation. The meeting also provided information which would assist FANR/UAE in the future development of emergency planning programmes and procedures. It additionally provided a clear understanding of the role of the IAEA International Emergency Center for data sharing and evaluation during events and exercises. The UAE’s Regulator FANR works with national authorities and the IAEA in developing capabilities for radiological and nuclear emergency response mechanisms in the UAE. From 21 to 31 March 2015, FANR received the IAEA Emergency Preparedness Review Service (EPREV) mission, which examined the UAE’s progress in preparing the necessary response measures in the event of a nuclear emergency at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant. The Plant is currently under construction. The UAE’s emergency response plan involves a coordinated effort from a variety of UAE entities working intensively to have all emergency preparation and response measures in place and well-tested before the first nuclear fuel arrives at the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant, whose operation is planned for 2016.
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
About the Permanent Mission Established in 2008, the Permanent Mission of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) acts as the main liaison between the UAE Government and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), as well as the Preparatory Commission for the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO) in Vienna, Austria. The UAE has been a member of the IAEA since 1976. The Government signed the CTBT in 1996 and ratified the Treaty in 2000. Through its daily engagement with these international organizations and its effective diplomacy, the Permanent Mission works to advance the interests of the UAE Government in the area of peaceful uses of nuclear energy. It facilitates close cooperation on nuclear safety, nuclear security, non-proliferation, safeguards, technical cooperation, and the implementation of relevant international instruments.
UAE Permanent Mission to IAEA
www.uae-iaea.org
Page
10