UAE to begin construction on first nuclear plant

[Alamuti Lotus]

Source: Reuters/Al-Akhbar

Construction work can start on the United Arab Emirates' first nuclear power plant, the government said on Wednesday, opening the way for a consortium of South Korean companies to build the multi-billion dollar project.

In December 2009, the UAE awarded a group led by Korea Electric Power Corp (KEPCO) a contract to build four nuclear reactors to meet surging demand for electricity.

The UAE, the world's third biggest oil exporter, wants to save its reserves for export rather than use them to generate electricity, while limiting its imports of natural gas for power plants.

UAE's nuclear program comes at a time when Iran is under increasing pressure from Western powers to abandon its own nuclear endeavors, despite insisting it is for peaceful purposes.

Unlike Iran, the UAE is a key Western ally and has avoided international scrutiny over its program.

Read more: http://english.al-akhbar.com/content/uae-begin-construction-first-nuclear-plant

[Crowman1979]

1. So UAE, a supporter of the Taliban is allowed to have a nuclear reactor, but not Iran?

[Carolina]

2. Not only that but

I believe two of the nineteen 9/11 hijackers were from the UAE.

Interesting which countries get a pass and which continue to be targeted (Iran 1953 and ongoing, Iraq 1991 and ongoing)

[cstanleytech]

4. The government of the UAE hasnt been pissing off people on purpose though.

But other than that I shake my head over them or anyone really for that matter building nuclear plants as they just are not imo a safe source of energy and thats not even taking into consideration the fuel disposal issues.

[Moltisanti]

3. Only countries with McDonald's are allowed to have reactors....

[lostnote12]

5. wow.....sums it up!!!....n/m

[lostnote12]

6. I wonder if they have a solar cell manufactoring company anywhere under the sun?

[awoke_in_2003]

7. What could possibly go wrong? nt

[TomClash]

8. UAE and Iran are both signatories to NPT

But, of course, Israel is not.

[HIlton Brackett]

9. really?

In the 70's the U.S. told the Shaw, Iran would be out of oil in 20 years and they must develop nuclear energy. What they did not tell them was that if the plants were not built by Rockwell, Westinghouse and the like, Iran would be destroyed. And now the U.S. tries again with a Korean proxy. "What could possibly go wrong" indeed.

[JCMach1]

10. worst idea EVER

Unlike most comments here I am not worried abput terrorists
It is the the incompetence in the UAE that scares me.

[Diclotican]

11. JCMach1

JCMach1

usually they import "infidels" to do the day to day job for them, like keeping the cattle lit and so one. Of course they would have a UAE citizen on the top, but from the management down, it Will all be others outside of UAE who do the job - I guess a few americans and Europeans would love to live in UAE, they have descent wages - and live in a country who is warm all year around... A long as the reactors are working as they should - it would not be any problems...

But putting nuclear reactors in a place with enough instability to scare the night light out of everyone who know the truth is prober ly not the smartest thing to do then.. UAE and the rest of the Middle east is steaming with political, economical and not least religious problems, who are not going away even if it looks like it on the surface..

Diclotican

[JCMach1]

13. unfortunately

They started a homegrown program to staff these sites.

[Diclotican]

14. JCMach1

JCMach1

I see - they might even have plans to do something else than just keep the cetle on for nuclear power.. Some of this country's have some ideas to make a nuclear bomb, off course to counter the danger from the Shiite Iran.. Who they suspect is on the verge of making a bomb...

Saudi-Arabia is also building a nuclear power plant - way out in the dessert, where water is scarce and very out of sight of everyone.. I suspect Saudi-Arabia to also have some ideas about a nuclear bomb down the road - maybe a decade or two down the road... You don't build a nuclear power plant in a desolate place way out in the saudi-arabian dessert just for the fun of it...

Diclotican

[Vinca]

12. Don't they have sun, sun and more sun there? Why not solar?