UAE to develop nuclear energy programs

Dr Abdullah Al Amiri, Chairman of Dubai Quality Group's Emirates Energy Award, said, "The UAE's decision to develop a nuclear energy program for peaceful purposes is appropriate for many reasons: it will cater to the requirements of the country's economic boom, it will make optimal use of the country's surplus petrodollar liquidity in a large-scale infrastructure project, it will contain the growing consumption rate in the country, which is driven by development projects, and finally, especially that the nuclear power plants are known to be reliable for meeting the base load requirement in any grid".

"The world is eagerly waiting for the production of nuclear energy through fission or fusion of atomic nuclei, which will produce neutrons, protons and fine particles of energy that produce power. This will address the concern resulting from energy shortages," Amiri added.

Energy and water consumption in the UAE have exceeded all forecasts for last year, surging to the tune of 17%, a 10% increase on the 7% target previously set by the Federal Water Electricity Authority (FEWA), a situation that calls for the country to diversify its energy sources.

According to the FEWA Director General, who singled out the property fever now gripping the country as the main cause for the increased power consumption, a nationwide real estate market growth of 20% has triggered a concomitant rise in energy consumption.

FEWA has been committed to meeting the forecast 8% growth in energy consumption, but the real estate boom has far surpassed all their records and expectations.