Conference on nuclear power supports UAE's vision for nuclear energy

The convening of the ‘International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century’ in Abu Dhabi comes within the framework of UAE's aspirations and vision for the future of nuclear energy as a new artery in the network of vital clean energy investments for sustainable development, said His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces.

''The conference is an encouraging step to monitor features and determinators of the future so as to make investment in nuclear energy an important option to generate energy as a safe and peaceful source,'' His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed said during a meeting at Al Bahr Palace on Monday with Yukiya Amano, Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, and the delegates participating in the conference, which opened in Abu Dhabi on Monday.

His Highness Sheikh Mohamed was briefed on the agenda of the conference's panel sessions on innovations and advances in nuclear technologies, sustainability of nuclear energy management and world demand for energy. He hoped the conference would produce recommendations that contribute towards the development of peaceful nuclear energy programmes.

During the meeting, H.H. Sheikh Mohamed and the audience spoke about the growing demand for energy to meet expansion in development projects and the need to harness peaceful nuclear energy technologies to stimulate growth and progress. The aim is to achieve sustainable development and ensure commitment to international safety and non-proliferation standards.

More than 700 delegates from 68 countries are participating in the three-day conference, which will enable the participants to engage in high-level dialogue on the role of nuclear power in meeting future energy demand, contributing to sustainable development and mitigating climate change, as well as to discuss and exchange views on the key issues related to the development and deployment of nuclear power.

The meeting was attended by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Dhafra Region; H.H. Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohammed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Ruler`s Representative in Al Ain Region; H.H. Sheikh Saif bin Mohammed Al Nahyan; H.H. Sheikh Nahyan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan Charitable and Humanitarian Foundation; H.H. Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior; H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, and a number of ministers and senior officials.

Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Industry, and Hamad Alkaabi, Permanent Representative of the UAE to the IAEA, accompanied the visiting delegation.