UAE nuclear power development and sector analysis

UAE Nuclear Energy

UAE is the third largest exporter of oil in the world, despite this fact UAE has considering the installation of nuclear-powered plants. These plants are to be installed so as to meet the increasing demand of electricity that is estimated to rise from 15.5GWe to 40 GWe in the next decade. The UAE government took an interest in the evaluation of nuclear energy as an extra source that would meet the growing energy demands the country has. It set up a policy of the evaluation and development of the peaceful development of nuclear energy known as nuclear policy. This concluded that nuclear power was proved to be a commercially competitive and environmentally friendly source of energy compared to other energy sources.UAE has signed treaties with countries such as USA that will ensure nuclear cooperation that is peaceful (World Nuclear Association, 2013).

Strengths and weaknesses of the sector

Strengths of the sector are such as the nuclear agreements that UAE has signed with countries such as France which was a good starting point that signaled the start of the nuclear program.UAE also uses the nuclear supplier's group export guidelines that it uses and hence it is transparent in its operations. There are many nuclear plants in UAE that have come up such as Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation which have installed some reactors that have brought about developments in the sector.

Weaknesses in the nuclear power sector in UAE include the fact that it is an Arab country and therefore the spread of nuclear technology faces a lot of questions from the rest of the world. Nuclear energy is quite a polarizing issue and many people are not willing to work in the sector

Advantages and disadvantages of the sector

The production of nuclear energy is economic since only a small amount of fuel is needed to produce a lot of energy. Secondly nuclear energy provides an alternative energy source that can support the growing energy demands in UAE.

Nuclear energy is disadvantageous as the environmental and economic costs of accidents from nuclear power plants are overwhelming. Secondly the nuclear power plants can not just be located anywhere they have to be placed in areas where heat sinks (World Nuclear Association, 2013).

Contribution of the sector to the economy

The nuclear energy sector is a great contributor to the economy of UAE. This is because the energy requirements in the global market are increasing and UAE exports some of its nuclear energy. This brings a lot of returns to UAE and hence brings about economic development. The economic development in UAE can only be maintained if nuclear energy programs are followed as well as the maintenance of high security and safety standards.

Trends in the sector

UAE nuclear energy sector is set to expand in the future. There was deal that was signed worth $20 billion with some South Korean firm for building more nuclear power plants by 2010.this shows that UAE is set to expand its nuclear energy production. There is also an increase in the urge of securing nuclear technology. The nuclear energy sector has become very important in UAE and recently there are introductions of disciplines related to the production of energy in academic institutions. Nuclear energy is expected to account for 23-25% of electricity in UAE by 2020 this trend shows that nuclear energy is gaining popularity in UAE (Kazim, 2012).

Conclusion

UAE is among the emerging countries in nuclear energy sector .if the trend of expanding the nuclear energy sector continues then UAE will be ranked among the top producers of nuclear energy in the world in the near future.