First GCC Nuclear Summit to be held in Dubai

The GCC Nuclear Summit will bring together senior decision makers from the energy sector and government officials from the Middle East and abroad, and is considered of high importance to the development of nuclear energy in the region.

According to the World Nuclear Association, GCC countries currently have a total installed capacity of about 80 GWe. However, with electricity and desalination demand estimated to increase by 10% and 8% annually by 2015, the GCC will need to produce an additional capacity of 60 GWe in only six years to fuel its expected residential and infrastructure growth and support the continued rapid development of its economy. Nuclear power has emerged as a proven, environmentally promising and commercially competitive option, as stated by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Cooperation.

Saudin Dungog, Project Director, Naseba, commented:

"The Gulf region is at the forefront of very exciting changes as it is preparing its nuclear program. The GCC Nuclear Summit comes at a very important time and provides a much-needed avenue for both the private and public sectors to discuss, debate, and evaluate the current market status, future direction, and opportunities of nuclear power. This strategic gathering also aims to assess the political, economical, environmental, commercial and industrial implications of this important decision, and has received great support from both the regional and international nuclear community."

The UAE is planning to start building the first unit in 2012 to become operational by 2017. By 2020, the UAE hopes to have three 1500 MWe nuclear plants running and producing electricity at a quarter of the cost of gas powered plants. Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Kuwait are also moving forward. Saudi Arabia and Bahrain have signed memoranda of understanding re nuclear cooperation with the USA, and Kuwait has set up a national nuclear energy commission, in cooperation with the IAEA.

Abdelmajid Mahjoub, Director General, Arab Atomic Energy Agency, explained, "The time has come for the Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa to move forward with long due decisions for the installation of nuclear power plants for electricity generation and sea water desalination. The time is right for taking such option, since all countries of the region have joined IAEA and are actively developing basic infrastructure needed for peaceful uses of nuclear energy with IAEA guidance. The services of the Arab Atomic Energy Agency (AAEA) could be used for harmonization of nuclear legislations in relation to safety and security of nuclear materials and installations. Nuclear power programmes are complex, but not insurmountable, with proper management and coordination within a single country and around the region among stakeholders, the objective of having operational power plants by 2020 as described in the Arab strategy developed by the AAEA could be achieved."

During the Summit, industry-renowned experts will discuss the risks and benefits of nuclear power, the peaceful uses of atomic energy in the Middle East, the nuclear development as a national or a regional program, the essentials of a strong nuclear regulatory infrastructure, the assessment of the nuclear safety imperative and the U.S. - UAE political, military, commercial, social and nuclear energy partnership.

High-profile speakers at the conference include: HE Amre Moussa, Secretary General, League of Arab States; H.E. Richard Olson, Jr, US Ambassador to the UAE; Dr. Adnan Shihab-Eldin, Former Secretary-General, OPEC; Dale Klein, Chairman, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission; Bertrand Barre, Chairman, International Nuclear Energy Academy & Scientific Advisor, Areva; Ali Boussaha, Chairman, Nuclear Power Support Group & Director for Technical Cooperation, IAEA; Abdelmajid Mahjoub, Director General, Arab Atomic Energy Agency; Dr. Kamal Araj, Vice Chairman, Jordan Atomic Energy Commission; Mohamed Elhkolaly, President, Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority; Peter Wakefield, Deputy Director, World Association of Nuclear Operators; Vincent Nkong-Njock, Senior Nuclear Power Specialist, IAEA.