Symposium Discussed Nuclear Safety Security and Safeguards
Khalifa University’s Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII) hosted the fourth annual GNEII Symposium at its Abu Dhabi Campus on May 18th 2014 and will hold a graduation ceremony for its 12 Fellows on May 19th as part its two-day symposium on nuclear safety security and safeguards.
The fellows come from the Federal Authority of Nuclear Regulation (FANR) Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and the Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA) in the UAE and underwent over 400 hours of training as part of the course. Twelve specialized nuclear instructors who ran the program were also in attendance at the graduation. The instructors came from Khalifa University Texas A&M University Sandia National Laboratories and the World Institute for Nuclear Security.
The symposium was opened in the attendance of H.E. Ambassador Michael H. Corbin The United States of America Ambassador to the UAE and there was a special keynote address from H.E. Ambassador Hamad Al Kaabi Permanent Representative of the UAE to the IAEA. The event was attended by representatives from US Department of Energy US Department of State Texas A&M University and Sandia National Labs. Dr. Tod Laursen President of Khalifa University also attended the event on behalf of the University.
H.E. Al Kaabi said in his address: “I would like to highlight the importance of human resources development for the nuclear sector. Education and training is an important aspect of the nuclear power development that needs to be given top priority in order to reach sustainability which is the main principle of a successful nuclear program.”
The event also attracted representatives from local entities such as the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority (CICPA).
Seven Capstone projects were presented by the GNEII fellows at the symposium as well. The Capstone projects represent the culmination of the 14 week GNEII course for the fellows and discussed a wide range of topics including: a survey of the current spent nuclear fuel storage technologies and an assessment of the safety approaches of existing systems for Barakah nuclear power plant (BNPP) effective enhancements for integrated safety and security control systems at BNPP development of recommendations for a nuclear security culture in the UAE an initial radiation baseline study of the urban environment in Abu Dhabi and an evaluation of security measures for nuclear material transportation in the UAE.
Dr. Arif Al Hammadi Khalifa University’s Executive Vice President said “Khalifa University wishes to congratulate the graduating fellows and to thank our esteemed guests for attending the graduation and the symposium. Programs like GNEII are vital to furthering the region’s quest to develop a peaceful nuclear program as well as become an intellectual and academic hub in the Gulf area.”
He continued “GNEII’s mission is to develop a responsible nuclear energy culture and institutionalize key safety security safeguards and nonproliferation norms in the future decision-makers of the Gulf region nuclear energy programs by providing professional development and training events like this one.”
GNEII is the result of a partnership between Khalifa University Sandia National Laboratories (Sandia) and Texas A&M University’s Nuclear Security Science and Policy Institute (NSSPI). It was designed to give future nuclear energy leaders the necessary knowledge to support them in future decision making processes by providing an enhanced understanding of the safety safeguards and security aspects of nuclear energy as well as offering the international community a model for an educational institute that addresses the integrated 3S (safety safeguards and security) methodology.
