Emirati graduates debate ways to prevent nuclear accidents

Rashid Al Suwaidi, left, Hesham Saeed, centre and Hassan Al Maeeni at the nuclear symposium in the capital. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // Ways to prevent a nuclear accident similar to the Fukushima disaster in Japan was among topics discussed in the capital by nuclear experts.

A group of 22 Emirati nuclear fellows, who graduated from the Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (Gneii), met to discuss potential challenges in the industry at the Gneii symposium held at Khalifa University.

The attendees were all employed by the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (Fanr), the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec) and the Critical Infrastructure and Coastal Protection Authority.

Hassan Almaeeni from Enec described his project focusing on accident-tolerant fuels.

“These are fuels that have enhanced accident tolerance in comparison with standard systems. They can tolerate a loss of active cooling in the reactor for a considerably longer time while maintaining or improving the fuel performance during normal operation,” he said.

At the Fukushima nuclear disaster in 2011, a 15-metre tsunami flooded the power plant.

“There was loss of power and cooling and the core melted after three days,” Mr Almaeeni said. “There was a large radioactive release and 100,000 people evacuated. Before Fukushima, nobody thought the fuel could melt, but it did, which is why we looked for a new type of fuel that can act in normal operation but can withstand in the core for a long period.”

Sarra Al Hasani, from Fanr, said evaluating the dose of cosmic rays in the UAE was vital.

“It is one of the things we do as part of our job in Fanr’s environmental laboratory,” she said. “This will help us build a background for the UAE prior to the start of operations at the Barakah nuclear power plant.”

With 99 graduates to date since 2011, the programme included 13 weeks of more than 350 hours of lectures, and exercises. They involved instructors from Sandia National Laboratories, Texas A&M University, Oak Ridge National Laboratory and Khalifa University, six exams and a technical tour of Khalifa Port where cargo was scanned for radiological threats. Topics included critical thinking, policy and nuclear non-proliferation, international safeguards, safety and nuclear security.

“Through this programme, they have hopefully all learnt how critical nuclear security is in operating a power plant,” said Dr Rodney Wilson from Sandia National Laboratories. “It is not easy to separate security from safety and safeguards so all talks today play an important part towards nuclear security.”