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2021-09-01

FANR Builds Strong N-regulatory Infrastructure in UAE

The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR), the United Arab Emirates’ independent nuclear regulator (FANR) built a strong nuclear and radiological regulatory infrastructure in the UAE for the protection of the public and environment despite the challenges posed by the global pandemic.

The FANR recently issued its 2020 Annual Report illustrating its various efforts to regulate nuclear and radiological sectors in the UAE to ensure of the protection of the public, workers and the environment.

In 2020, FANR successfully maintained its regulatory functions by conducting oversight covering nuclear safety, radiation safety, nuclear security, nuclear non-proliferation, continued its capacity building programme to equip Emiratis to ensure sustainability of the nuclear and radiation sectors as well as streamlining its national and international cooperation.

Barakah N-Power Plant

FANR issued the first operating licence for the Unit 1 of the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP) in February 2020, making the UAE the first Arab country to operate a nuclear power plant.

The operating licence was issued for Nawah Energy Company (Nawah), the operator, to operate the plant for a period of 60 years.

The issuance decision culminates FANR’s efforts since it received the Operating License Application from the operator in 2015 and hence, FANR followed a systematic review process that included a thorough assessment of the application documentation, conducting robust regulatory oversight and inspections.

FANR reviewed the 14,000 page Operating License Application, conducted more than 185 inspections and requested approximately 2,000 additional requests of information on various matters related to reactor design, safety and other issues to ensure the Barakah Nuclear Power Plant’s compliance with all regulatory requirements.

Following the operating licence issuance, FANR conducted around-the-clock inspection of all the various testing processes, including nuclear fuel loading, start-up phase, grid connection, leading to the commercial operation of the unit to generate electricity in the country.

Abdulla Nasser Al Suwaidi, Chairman of FANR, elaborated: “2020 has been another milestone year for FANR in delivering its mandate to ensure the peaceful, safe and secure use of nuclear energy and radiation sources as well as develop the sustainability of the UAE’s regulatory infrastructure according to its 2017-2021 Corporate Strategy. The year constituted a challenge nationally and internationally after the declaration by the World Health Organisation of Coronavirus (Covid-19) as a global pandemic. The UAE, thanks to the vision and wisdom of its leadership, has managed to steer safely through the situation. In addition, FANR has efficiently and diligently maintained its regulatory functions to protect the community, workers and the environment using its smart systems.”

He added: “Regulating the nuclear industry is a complex task requiring high-level and knowledge-intensive expertise. Hence, we are proud to have qualified Emirati nuclear experts working side by side with our foreign expert staff in nuclear safety, nuclear security and nuclear non-proliferation. We emphasise research and development (R&D) and work with national and international partners to build a robust regulatory framework, together with Emirati experts who are ready to lead the regulation of the nuclear industry in the UAE.”

“FANR in 2020 continued the journey towards realising its vision to be a globally recognised nuclear regulator by providing thorough oversight of the nuclear industry in the UAE. Since its establishment in 2009, FANR has set up a robust regulatory infrastructure that has procedures and processes in place that ensure we carry out our mission to protect the public and environment from radiation hazards as well as ensuring the safety, security and peaceful use of all nuclear activities in the country,” stated Christer Viktorsson, Director-General of FANR.

He highlighted how in early 2020, FANR marked a historic milestone for the UAE by issuing the Operating Licence of Unit 1 of BNPP.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation

FANR has been supportive of the UAE’s commitments towards international nuclear non-proliferation regime. Despite the pandemic, FANR ensured business continuity with respect to the correct, complete and timely submissions to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) of nuclear material accounting reports, facility attachments records and additional protocol declarations.

The Authority played an important role in improving the UAE’s ranking in the Logistics Performance Index as part of the UAE 2021 National Agenda.

FANR’s Nuclear Technology (NuTech) was integrated with the General Authority of Ports, Borders, & Free Zone Security (Manafth) Advance Cargo Information (ACI).

There were other efforts to integrate the NuTech portal with other government entities across the UAE. The portal processed over 3,000 requests and hit 99 per cent customer satisfaction.

Safety Measures

Protecting the workers, public and the environment represents the core of FANR’s mission. FANR continued its regulatory mission by carrying out some 283 inspections for medical and non-medical purposes. It issued 1,097 licences for medical and non-medical uses of radiation sources as well as issued 1,307 permits.

FANR continued to monitor the radioactivity levels in the UAE environment, using the FANR environmental laboratory in Abu Dhabi and various monitoring stations across the UAE.

More than 150 samples were collected from the air, soil, water and sediment. As well as the laboratory analyses, more than 500,000 individual measurements of gamma dose rates were collected from a network of 17 gamma monitoring stations throughout the UAE.

As per the report, the environmental laboratory also analyses material transported across the UAE’s borders, and regularly teams up with other federal government entities to ensure that the radioactivity in goods entering the UAE do not pose risks to the health and safety of the public.

FANR’s Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory (SSDL) provided over 600 calibration certificates to customers from medical, industrial and nuclear sectors in the UAE.

The Federal Authority also launched the smart SSDL Portal where it enables the customers to submit directly their calibration requests and to download their calibration certificates.

Emergency Preparedness

The Emergency Operation Centre of FANR is equipped with state-of-the-art equipment to coordinate FANR’s response in case of any nuclear or radiological emergency. In 2020, FANR continued to strengthen its own system and capabilities to be able to respond to an emergency by organising drills and taking part in other exercises in coordination with national entities and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

It conducted and took part in drills nationally and internationally as well as held various training workshops.

Boosting Emirati Capacity

During the period, FANR completed the Legal ‘Developee’ programme and two ‘developees’ joined the Legal Department of FANR.

Moreover, 40 directors and managers took part in the first FANR Leadership Development Centre as part of the Leadership and Management Development Programme.

It establishes a platform for FANR’s employees to become better leaders and contributors to FANR’s regulatory mission.

FANR’s various capacity-building programmes contribute to an increase in the number of Emiratis to reach around 68 per cent and women to constitute almost 41 per cent of total workforce.

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