Middle East Focus: Fatalistic Arabs for Safe Nuclear Power……….

Arabia Deserta

Fatalistic Arabs for Safe Nuclear Power……….

“The UAE plans to take a leading role in helping developing countries build safe nuclear power programmes, the country’s representative to the UN’s top nuclear regulator says. The plans emerged as the UAE revealed it would bid for a seat on the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors, the group’s top decision-making body. The UAE’s nuclear programme is considered “the gold standard” for deploying atomic power quickly and safely, said Hamad al Kaabi, the UAE’s permanent representative to the IAEA. “It’s well recognised now that the UAE is leading the new nuclear renaissance,” Mr al Kaabi said. “What we’ve demonstrated as a government is that by having these clear, transparent policies with the highest commitment for non-proliferation, we have secured support from the international community.”……….”

When they say the UAE will help “build” safe nuclear power plants that only means they’ll help “buy” a safe nuclear plant. One thing is certain about the current media reports about the flurry of Arab nuclear power plants being planned (every Arab nation seems to have plans for them except maybe Somalia). They will be under the tightest control ever seen, simply because they may be built, managed, and operated by foreigners. There will be no need for the IAEA inspections if, for example, they are American operated. Natives will have access to limited technology, and this may be a good thing. Nothing wrong with that, even the cranky Iranians have had Russian help with the Bushehr plant, although they have other “fish” elsewhere.
Imagine a string of fatalistic nuclear-armed oligarchies, either fully fundamentalist or quasi-fundamentalist or leaning fundamentalist or dating fundamentalists (most of them, at least), ringing my explosive Gulf. They can’t even manage the sewers and the electric power grids.
As for this "young" ambassador claiming that “It’s well recognised now that the UAE is leading the new nuclear renaissance”..... oy vey.
Cheers
mhg

m.h.ghuloum@gmail.com