FANR to establish Research and Development Policy and Strategy

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, FANR, is to establish a Research and Development Policy and Strategy to be submitted to the government.

This was announced at a workshop hosted last week by FANR, in cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, to support research and development programmes in the UAE that ensure the long-term sustainability of the UAE's nuclear power programme.

The workshop was an opportunity to gather nuclear stakeholders and start collaboration in the field of research and development to support the safety and reliability of the civil nuclear power programme in the UAE. "Based on the contributions from the participating national and international experts, a policy and strategy will be formulated and submitted to the government," according to FANR.

The workshop, entitled, "Infrastructure for Research and Development to Support the Nuclear Power Programme in the UAE", also covered the IAEA guidelines and best practices on research and development.

More than 30 representatives from UAE organisations attended the workshop, including the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, the Environment Agency - Abu Dhabi, Khalifa University and the Masdar Institute of Science and Technology "The nuclear law gives FANR its full mandate to regulate the nuclear sector and to carry out and support research and development. The workshop is considered to be a very significant step in establishing a solid and sustainable framework for nuclear research based on best international practices," said Christer Viktorsson, FANR Director-General. "Regulatory research and development is essential, not only for FANR, but for the nuclear industry as a whole. We will continue to develop national capabilities, keep up with technological advances and forecast emerging safety issues."

During the workshop, FANR presented its progress in its legal and regulatory framework, international commitments and cooperation, radiation safety infrastructure, and the UAE’s nuclear power plant licensing status.