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DUBAI: Because the world watches the Russia-Ukraine battle rage on, many concern {that a} nuclear escalation is imminent. Regardless of this risk, regulators and operators all over the world are working to make sure the implementation of protected nuclear energy, in keeping with the pinnacle of the UAE’s regulatory authority.

Referring to the disasters within the former Soviet Union in 1986 and in Japan in 2011, Christer Viktorsson stated that whereas atomic power is usually a hazardous enterprise, “nuclear security normally has improved considerably since Chernobyl. It improved additional after the Fukushima accident. Many security enhancements have been carried out.”

However, within the context of the combating in Ukraine, he stated: “We should always all be alarmed by the scenario when there’s a danger of a nuclear accident. Now we have seen accidents up to now and so they have been catastrophic in nature, lots of them, and carried out lots of harm to the atmosphere and public well being.”

Viktorsson, at the moment director-general of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation within the UAE, made the remarks throughout an look on “Frankly Talking,” the Arab Information present affairs speak present that engages with main policymakers and enterprise leaders.

The remarks got here forward of the twenty seventh UN Local weather Change Convention, or COP27, which kicked off in Egypt’s Sharm El-Sheikh on Sunday.

The UAE, which is able to host the COP28 local weather summit, is house to the Barakah nuclear energy plant, which has 4 reactors and is the primary industrial facility of its variety within the Arab world.

According to a plethora of environmentally pleasant initiatives launched by Gulf nations, the plant will assist “to restrict the emission of CO2 (carbon dioxide) to the atmosphere. And I believe all of us ought to assist the event of know-how that makes the world extra sustainable,” Viktorsson stated.

“It’s not a fast repair. For those who begin to construct a nuclear energy plant and put it in operation, it takes between 5 and 10 years. If you wish to begin with extra superior know-how, it’d even take an extended time. So, it’s a part of an answer, I imagine, however it’s not the one answer.”

In December 2017, the Iran-backed Houthi militia claimed that that they had launched a cruise missile on the Barakah plant. Whereas the UAE reported that no missile reached the power, the incident demonstrated the necessity for the very best safety and security protocols. In February this 12 months, Viktorsson advised the Reuters information company that he was assured that Barakah was nicely protected.

In the identical vein, he advised Katie Jensen, the host of “Frankly Talking,” “fashionable nuclear energy vegetation, together with Barakah particularly, have a really sturdy bodily safety that’s a part of the necessities within the UAE. Then, in fact, bodily safety is constructed into the plant.

“However the complete nation must play collectively to make sure bodily safety of a nuclear energy plant,” he stated, including that along with bodily safety, Barakah is provided with sturdy cybersecurity protocols and engages in frequent testing and drills.

For years, Saudi Arabia has labored towards a clear, protected atomic-energy program. Lately, officers from the UAE toured the Kingdom’s nuclear analysis reactor venture at King Abdulaziz Metropolis for Science and Know-how.

The specs for the Saudi venture’s reactors have been designed by KACST with the participation of King Abdullah Metropolis for Atomic and Renewable Power, or Ok.A.CARE, and worldwide consultants, in keeping with the Kingdom’s Imaginative and prescient 2030 web site.

The nuclear analysis venture, based by a royal decree in 2010, goals to construct “a sustainable future for Saudi Arabia by growing a considerable different power capability absolutely supported by world-class native industries.”

For the reason that Kingdom grew to become a member of the Worldwide Atomic Power Company in 1962, it has adhered to its commitments beneath the IAEA’s “Milestones Method,” which is a three-phase plan culminating within the building and operation of a nuclear plant.

Thus far, Saudi Arabia has accomplished part one, which includes a sequence of research, and part two, which consists of the institution of regulatory frameworks and organizations.

In February this 12 months, Rafael Grossi, director-general of the IAEA, advised a digital convention in Riyadh that the company was working carefully with Saudi Arabia to develop its nuclear power program.

“Now we have had a cooperation settlement now with the regulatory authority in Saudi Arabia and now we have been visiting them and so they have been visiting us. We meet commonly to be able to share data,” stated Viktorsson, a physicist with over three a long time of expertise in nuclear security and regulation.

“We share data on the best way to construct an set up, the best way to regulate (and) which forms of laws are wanted.

“There are lots of issues to study from one another’s practices. I imply, now we have within the UAE just lately constructed three reactors and Saudi Arabia is beginning to construct. So, in fact, there (are) lots of pursuits in widespread. And the UAE and FANR is prepared to share, as a result of considered one of our ideas is transparency and openness to civil nuclear know-how.”

Whereas Iran continues to press forward with its controversial nuclear program, Viktorsson stated: “I believe the UAE is already a mannequin, and the cooperation between (the UAE and Saudi Arabia) may very well be one other mannequin of how two nations subsequent to one another might assist one another within the peaceable facets of nuclear energy.

“Within the area, as we see in different areas of the world, there’s lots of openness and discussions and cooperation between regulatory authorities. And that is one thing that we’re introducing now additionally on this area. It’s of nice, nice profit.”

Security is the very best precedence for FANR and the UAE in the case of nuclear energy, in keeping with Viktorsson. Since 2008, the nation’s nuclear coverage has “emphasised that the UAE goes to adjust to the very best worldwide requirements in security, safety and non-proliferation. And we’re implementing that within the siting of the Barakah energy plant.

“Now we have assessed the location, that it’s protected. Now we have supervised the development of the Barakah energy plant, on a regular basis with our inspectors. We are actually supervising the operation.”

Barakah is subjected to rigorous security and regulatory protocols, Viktorsson stated. Eight resident inspectors work carefully alongside operators, monitoring every day operation, upkeep and restore actions.

Along with this, the FANR headquarters in Abu Dhabi has screens monitoring every reactor, and often runs simulators to arrange for any potential state of affairs on the plant. Laboratories additionally monitor the radiation ranges of fish, water, air and sand round Barakah.

“The UAE has signed and adhered to the Conference on Nuclear Security, the Conference on Radioactive Waste, the Conference on Bodily Safety — all of the devices that, actually, are there to assist security, safety and non-proliferation,” Viktorsson stated.

In latest months, IAEA officers have expressed concern that the combating in Ukraine might lead to a catastrophic nuclear accident on the Zaporizhzhya atomic energy plant, Europe’s largest. The plant has been beneath Russian management for months now, operated by Ukrainian engineers.

“We should always all be alarmed by the scenario when there’s a danger of a nuclear accident,” stated Viktorsson. “Now we have seen accidents up to now and so they have been catastrophic in nature, lots of them, and carried out lots of harm to the atmosphere and public well being.”

Speaking of security, he stated location and operation of a nuclear energy plant usually are not the one challenges in the case of security. The disposal and storage of nuclear waste is one other situation that nations establishing their nuclear energy capabilities should sort out.

There are various kinds of nuclear waste produced by energy vegetation. One class is operational waste, that are garments, instruments and gear contaminated with radioactivity, that require a sure kind of therapy, however are labeled as “low- and intermediate-level waste,” and could be saved simply.

The problem,  in keeping with Viktorsson, is the disposal and storage of spent nuclear gas.

“That may be a completely different story as a result of that’s hazardous for hundreds of years and we have to make it possible for we discover a system that basically can care for this waste. So, lots of analysis has gone on on this planet and we’re benefiting from all this expertise from different nations, within the UAE. And the federal government is engaged on a coverage now for the protected disposal of nuclear spent gas,” he stated.

Since 2008, Viktorsson stated, the UAE has dedicated to taking “a really accountable angle towards the security of radioactive waste, the identical angle as for the nuclear energy plant.”

Nevertheless, he provides, “the choice to be made on this matter is just not pressing. Now we have virtually 100 years earlier than we have to determine on the ultimate answer for spent nuclear gas. One can think about that the know-how goes to develop. So, we’d discover a smarter means of taking good care of nuclear waste than disposing of it within the floor. However the UAE is ensuring that we are going to care for it in a protected method and to be able to make it possible for it doesn’t harm any atmosphere or human being.”

Along with diversifying the UAE’s power sources and financial system away from oil and gasoline, the nation’s nuclear program has introduced with it social profit, in keeping with Viktorsson. He said that FANR’s workforce is 44 % feminine and 72 % Emirati.

“It’s important that we make the most of all the abilities that exist within the nation, and most of the younger females and males are very to affix FANR and the nuclear trade,” he stated.