As he prepared for the inaugural New Nuclear International Conference in Abu Dhabi this week, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp. CNO George Vanderheyden engaged in a Q and A with Nuclearstreet.com on the future of nuclear power in the Emirates and the broader Middle East.
NS: What's the biggest challenge you've encountered establishing a civilian nuclear program in a country that is new to nuclear power?
Vanderheyden: From the outset, the government of the UAE had a clear goal of creating a model by which all non-nuclear states can develop a peaceful nuclear energy program with the full support of the international community. This made international engagement a critical part of the program’s development.
The UAE’s resulting Policy on the Evaluation and Potential Development of Peaceful Civil Nuclear Energy, was developed over a six-month period by a team of industry experts who engaged extensively with the international community and with foreign governments. The UAE policy model is based upon the principles of complete operational transparency and the highest standards of safety, security and non-proliferation. It also calls for close and continuous coordination with the IAEA, as well as with the governments and firms of responsible nuclear nations.
From a domestic perspective, building a new, high-technology industry requires a vast supply chain and a diverse team of nuclear energy professionals. While we can rely on the strength and experience of our partners in the short-term, the overwhelming priority for ENEC has been in nurturing a local industry of nuclear industry suppliers and working with our local educational institutions to develop the training and development infrastructure that will support and sustain a local workforce of highly skilled Emiratis well into the future. In my thirty-plus years in the nuclear energy industry, I have never seen a company invest as much in its people as ENEC does.
We also knew that educating our citizens on nuclear energy was going to be one of our most important responsibilities. So we put together an extensive public engagement and education program including public forums in Abu Dhabi, in Dubai and in the Western Region near the construction site to share our vision and purpose, and to listen. We have made the effort to engage our citizens on the fundamentals of radiation and nuclear energy and dispel many of the myths associated with these topics. As a result of this and other communication initiatives, 82 percent of the UAE population is in favor of nuclear energy for the nation’s future.
NS: ENEC closely evaluated bids led by Areva, GE-Hitachi and KEPCO. What made KEPCO's consortium and the APR-1400 the best reactor for Barakah?
Vanderheyden: The decision taken in 2009 hinged on several important factors, including the reactor design, the safety and performance record, their abilities to fulfill the partnership requirement of this ambitious program, and their capabilities and commitment to support the human capacity development goals through training and development programs and knowledge transfer. KEPCO’s total package represented the best combination of these and other factors.
Since then, the UAE peaceful nuclear energy program has evolved and matured in ways that continue to gain the recognition and support of the international nuclear energy community. ENEC’s capabilities to manage the safety and quality assurance aspects of the project, including some modifications to the design following the tsunami and accident in Japan, are benefitting from world-class expertise.
As we work towards becoming fully operational, we have much more to achieve, to be sure. But I believe we have the right people, the right framework and the right corporate culture to build and operate these plants safely and reliably for decades to come.
NS: With proposals for new reactors advancing in Jordan, Turkey and other countries in the region, what do you see in the future for nuclear power in the Middle East and North Africa?
Vanderheyden: There is a growing need for reliable, affordable and sustainable energy around the world. As nations seek the energy sources – especially baseload electricity – to power growing industries and secure social and economic development, we will see even more nations turning to peaceful nuclear energy.
It is encouraging to see that nations in the Middle East are deciding to proceed with peaceful nuclear energy programs to diversify their energy portfolio away from an overdependence on fossil fuels, as well as to provide long-term, reliable baseload electricity produced with near-zero greenhouse gas emissions.
This week’s New Nuclear International Conference was created to showcase the latest technologies and the many lessons learned from the global nuclear industry for energy policymakers from responsible nations around the world.
NS: What role did desalination play in the UAE's decision to pursue nuclear power?
Vanderheyden: Water security and energy security are important and closely linked priorities for global development. This is especially true in the UAE, which happens to have the world’s second largest desalination capacity. It takes significant amounts of energy to produce clean water for a water-scarce nation.
When we look at the overall energy goals for the UAE, the government concluded that nuclear energy makes the most sense. Diversifying the UAE energy mix through significant investments in peaceful nuclear energy, renewable energy technologies and energy efficiency means the UAE need not commit a sizable portion of fossil fuel generation capacity to desalination.