The UAE is close to completing the nuclear power infrastructure needed to start the Barakah plant, international atomic energy experts have said.
A ten-person team from the International Atomic Energy Agency has been in the country since June 24, conducting an “integrated nuclear infrastructure review”. The results were announced on Sunday.
The team assessed areas for improvement across 19 segments including the electrical grid, emergency planning, nuclear security, radioactive waste management and environmental protection.
“The visit is not a rubber stamp but supports UAE efforts," said Milko Kovachev, head of the IAEA nuclear infrastructure development section, who led the team.
“We were pleased to see the status at the moment and, more importantly, to see clear plans to go forward," he said.
It is not an official audit, but the team made several recommendations including three on radioactive waste, long-term sustainability and operational readiness for the UAE’s peaceful nuclear programme, which regulators said they would implement.
The Barakah plant in Al Dhafra is a joint venture between Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and Kepco, the Korean Electric Power Company. It is being run by the Nawah Energy Company, who cannot begin operations until it has received a licence from the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation.
In May, it was announced that the first reactor would not begin generating electricity until 2019 or 2020 as work continues. It’s envisaged that four reactors will eventually generate 25 per cent of the country’s energy needs.
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Read more:
UAE's first nuclear power plant delayed until late 2019 or 2020
Handover of Barakah nuclear plant to operator 'almost complete'
UAE is 'role model' for peaceful nuclear power says energy chief
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On nuclear waste, meanwhile, the team said the UAE should approve the draft 2016 policy to enshrine its commitment to responsible radioactive waste and spent fuel management. Turning to operational readiness, it said Nawah needs to complete training and certification of all key personal, implement preparations for maintenance before the plant begins operating and that Enec maintains its oversight role during construction of units 3 and 4. Thirdly and finally, the team advised that the UAE ensures the long-term sustainability of the nuclear power programme. Establishing a research and development programme is one way of doing this, it said.
Raoul Awad, deputy director general of operations at FANR, said the team's review had validated their work and all the recommendations would be implemented. "They will be completed before the start of the reactor," he told The National.
On the tentative opening date of late next year or early 2020, Mr Awad said FANR never prioritises the schedule over the safety and security of the facility.
“This is the main mantra of any good regulator. But I don’t see any reason to doubt that will be the right schedule.”
The IAEA team also praised the self-assessment carried out by Nawah and development of a strong engineering unit within the company.
The IAEA work is done in three phases. The first phase involves pre-project activities, while the second involves preparatory work for the contracting and construction of a nuclear energy plant. The UAE was evaluated by the IAEA mission team on these two phases in 2011.
The final and third phase involves activities to implement the first nuclear energy plant.
Hamad Al Kaabi, the UAE’s permanent representative at the IAEA, said the progress made by the UAE’s nuclear energy programme was a result of the collaboration with a network of international organisations.
“The successful conclusion of the phase 3 … mission is a testament to the UAE’s commitment to upholding the highest international standards of safety, security and transparency as we approach the commissioning of the nation’s first nuclear energy plant.”
Construction of the $25 billion nuclear plant began in 2011, with electricity generation originally slated for 2017.
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Dubai works towards better air quality by 2021
Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.
The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.
These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.
“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.
“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.
“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.
“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”
Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.
There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.
“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.
“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.
“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”
The biog
Hometown: Cairo
Age: 37
Favourite TV series: The Handmaid’s Tale, Black Mirror
Favourite anime series: Death Note, One Piece and Hellsing
Favourite book: Designing Brand Identity, Fifth Edition
WTL%20SCHEDULE
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Farasan Boat: 128km Away from Anchorage
Director: Mowaffaq Alobaid
Stars: Abdulaziz Almadhi, Mohammed Al Akkasi, Ali Al Suhaibani
Rating: 4/5
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Fight card
Bantamweight
Siyovush Gulmamadov (TJK) v Rey Nacionales (PHI)
Lightweight
Alexandru Chitoran (ROM) v Hussein Fakhir Abed (SYR)
Catch 74kg
Tohir Zhuraev (TJK) v Omar Hussein (JOR)
Strawweight (Female)
Weronika Zygmunt (POL) v Seo Ye-dam (KOR)
Featherweight
Kaan Ofli (TUR) v Walid Laidi (ALG)
Lightweight
Leandro Martins (BRA) v Abdulla Al Bousheiri (KUW)
Welterweight
Ahmad Labban (LEB) v Sofiane Benchohra (ALG)
Bantamweight
Jaures Dea (CAM) v Nawras Abzakh (JOR)
Lightweight
Mohammed Yahya (UAE) v Glen Ranillo (PHI)
Lightweight
Alan Omer (GER) v Aidan Aguilera (AUS)
Welterweight
Mounir Lazzez (TUN) Sasha Palatnikov (HKG)
Featherweight title bout
Romando Dy (PHI) v Lee Do-gyeom (KOR)
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The%20specs
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England squad
Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jofra Archer, Jonny Bairstow, Dominic Bess, James Bracey, Stuart Broad, Rory Burns, Jos Buttler, Zak Crawley, Sam Curran, Joe Denly, Ben Foakes, Lewis Gregory, Keaton Jennings, Dan Lawrence, Jack Leach, Saqib Mahmood, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Parkinson, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Dom Sibley, Ben Stokes, Olly Stone, Amar Virdi, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood
RESULT
Al Hilal 4 Persepolis 0
Khribin (31', 54', 89'), Al Shahrani 40'
Red card: Otayf (Al Hilal, 49')
Company%20Profile
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Difference between fractional ownership and timeshare
Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.
Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
Squad for first two ODIs
Kohli (c), Rohit, Dhawan, Rayudu, Pandey, Dhoni (wk), Pant, Jadeja, Chahal, Kuldeep, Khaleel, Shami, Thakur, Rahul.
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
