Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with French radioactive waste management agency Andra to explore potential collaboration in the field of radioactive waste management.

Countries embarking on nuclear energy programmes for the first time or expanding their programmes after a long period without construction face integrated challenges, representatives from emerging and expanding nuclear countries have said. These challenges include the development of human resources as well as financial and political considerations.

Most of the recommendations made by a mission in 2015 have been addressed, according to a follow-up mission to the United Arab Emirates by an International Atomic Energy Agency emergency preparedness review service team.

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation and Russia’s Tenex have renewed their Memorandum of Understanding on exploring potential opportunities for collaboration in nuclear fuel cycle management. The new MoU was signed by Mohamed Al Hammadi, CEO of Enec, and Sergey Polgorodnik, general director of Tenex, during the 24th World Energy Congress being held this week in Abu Dhabi.

The UAE's Barakah One Company and Korea Electric Power Corporation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to explore potential collaboration on new nuclear energy projects in third countries.

The United Arab Emirates' Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation has officially certified Nawah Energy's first group of operators for the Barakah nuclear power plant. Certification of operators is a key requirement for the issue of the plant's operating licence.

Nawah Energy Company - which will operate the UAE's first nuclear power plant at Barakah - has today signed a long-term maintenance services agreement with Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power, supported by Kepco Plant Service & Engineering. It has also signed a five-year maintenance service agreement with Doosan Heavy Industries & Construction.

The head of the United Arab Emirates Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, which this week inaugurated a new Emergency Operations Centre, has said it is in the final stages of preparations but not yet ready to issue the operating licence for the Barakah nuclear power plant.

The Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation has signed a memorandum of understanding with Enusa Industrias Avanzadas, defining a framework for collaboration and the exchange of information and expertise in the field of nuclear fuel services.

The leaders of South Korea and the United Arab Emirates have said the two countries will seek opportunities to cooperate in the field of nuclear energy beyond their current collaboration on the Barakah nuclear power plant project. This will include opportunities in third countries.

The Secondary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory of the UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation has been awarded the ISO 17025 accreditation for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, the first of its kind in the Gulf region.

Cold hydrostatic testing has been completed at unit 3 of the United Arab Emirates' four-unit Barakah nuclear power plant, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation has announced.