ENEC, int’l experts discuss N-energy safety

Abu Dhabi / WAM

International experts have shared their thoughts at a presentation on safety in nuclear energy, organised by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC).
Naohiro Masuda, the President and Chief Decommissioning Officer of Fukushima Daiichi Decontamination and Decommissioning Engineering Company, and Tom Mitchell, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Power Generation, spoke on the subject in the presence of Suhail Al Mazrouie, Minister of Energy, ENEC’s Board of Directors, including Deputy Chairman Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid Al Qasimi, and Senior Management.
Also in attendance were senior management and board members from other entities, including the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA), National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA), Ministry of Energy (MoE), Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Company (ADWEC), Western Region Municipality (WRM) the Regulation and Supervision Bureau (RSB) and Abu Dhabi Transmission and Despatch Company, TRANSCO.
Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi delivered a keynote speech highlighting ENEC’s commitment to safety, achieved by incorporating international experiences, at a time when the organisation approaches a key moment in the delivery of the UAE peaceful nuclear energy programme.
Naohiro Masuda, the President and Chief Decommissioning Officer of Fukushima Daiichi Decontamination and Decommissioning Engineering Company, was formerly in charge of the Fukushima Dainii plant, the sister plant to Daiichi.
Masudo gave a presentation on the response that he led following the incident at Fukushima. His efforts resulted in Dainii being saved from a reactor meltdown of the type seen at Daiichi. The two sister plants are located on the same coast line, just ten kilometres apart.
The audience also heard from Tom Mitchell, former President and Chief Executive Officer of Ontario Power Generation. Mitchell led the World Association of Nuclear Operators’ response to the Fukushima disaster. Following the incident, countries were called upon to ensure that they made safety modifications to their existing nuclear facilities. Mitchell emphasised the importance of being prepared for the unexpected.
Sheikha Lubna noted that, “Today’s very informative session showed that commitment to safety affects all of us involved in the UAE’s peaceful nuclear programme. It is vital that we understand the nature of the industry and jointly support all nuclear programme initiatives for the long-term benefit of the nation.”
She added, “Nuclear energy is safe and secure, and I am proud of the leadership shown by ENEC in engaging international expertise to collaborate and share knowledge so that together we will deliver a world-class, safe and efficient nuclear programme.”
ENEC’s Chief Executive Officer, Mohamed Al Hammadi, said, “The importance of today’s event cannot be overstated. Pending regulatory approval, we are rapidly approaching the commercial operation of our first reactor which will provide an energy source that is not only safe and reliable, but also abundant enough to sustain the UAE’s continuing growth.”
“Becoming a nuclear operator, however, includes a series of new responsibilities and we at ENEC are committed to upholding the highest standards of safety and security as we advance into this new operational role,” added Al Hammadi.
The construction of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant commenced in 2012, and the four nuclear energy units are scheduled for completion in 2020. With four reactors online, the facility will deliver up to a quarter of the UAE’s electricity needs and save up to 12 million tons in carbon emissions every year.
The project at Barakah is progressing steadily, Unit 1 is now more than 87 percent complete, Unit 2 is 68 percent complete, Unit 3 is 47 percent complete and Unit 4 is 29 percent complete. Overall, construction of Units 1 to 4 is now more than 62 percent complete. All four units will deliver safe, clean, reliable and efficient nuclear energy to the UAE grid, pending regulatory reviews and licensing.