Abu Dhabi, March 24 (Xinhua) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has approved a plan to develop the country’s nuclear energy programme, according to media reports.
A memorandum that proposed setting up of central nuclear energy development body called Nuclear Energy Implementation Organisation (NEPIO) was submitted to the cabinet Sunday by Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
Nuclear power generation represents an environmentally promising and commercially competitive option that could make a significant contribution to the UAE’s economy and future energy security, the memorandum said.
It stressed that the UAE is committed to maintaining operational transparency and the highest standards of non-proliferation, safety and security, the official Emirates News Agency reported.
It will work directly with the UN nuclear watchdog International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and conform to its standards in evaluating and potentially developing a peaceful nuclear energy programme.
In January, the Arab federation signed a nuclear cooperation agreement with France, which provided a framework for cooperation between the two countries in the evaluation and potential use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
The UAE government has been undertaking high-level government-to-government consultations with the United States, Germany, France, Russia, China, Britain, Japan, South Korea as well as direct consultations with IAEA for its nuclear power programme, the memorandum said.