UAE INTERESTED IN DOE/NNSA COOPERATION, MOU

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000585 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARP, ISN/RA (STUKALIN),ISN/MNSA (RUDOLPH) AND ISN/NESS (HUMPHREY) NRC FOR MDOANE, MFREELAND DOE FOR NNSA (VAN SICKLE, MCCLELLAND-KERR) E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ENRG TRGY AORC KNNP OTRA AE SUBJECT: UAE INTERESTED IN DOE/NNSA COOPERATION, MOU REFS: A) STATE 57671 B) ABU DHABI 491 ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. In response to reftel request, the Ambassador and EconOff discussed DOE/NNSA's interest in pursuing nuclear infrastructure cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA),Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) and the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC). All officials expressed strong interest in cooperation with DOE/NNSA and requested further details about what type of cooperation is possible and when in July DOE/NNSA hopes to visit the UAE. As local officials may face some schedule challenges in July, post requests additional details to solicit UAE support for a visit. END SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. ¶2. (SBU) FANR: Dr. Bill Travers, Director General-designate, Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR, under formation) told the Ambassador that FANR is very interested in pursuing formal safety and security cooperation with DOE/NNSA and the NRC. To that end, Travers suggested that a joint DOE-NRC visit may be appropriate to outline the full range of official US-UAE nuclear cooperation. Travers asked for specific details on the timing of a July DOE/NNSA visit, as officials availability may be limited. ¶3. (SBU) ENEC: Mohammed Al Hammadi, CEO, Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC, under formation) told the Ambassador on June 11 that he was very interested in cooperation with DOE after meeting with DOE officials in Washington. Al Hammadi said he was very interested in an MOU with DOE/NNSA and was also encouraging FANR to complete an MOU with the NRC, both of which would assist in giving the UAE program "credibility." Al Hammadi asked for details on specific programs and areas of cooperation that are possible. He added that the UAE nuclear power tender bids are due in early July, and key officials will be holding substantive negotiations with bidders in July. However, he was optimistic they could make time for USG discussions. ¶4. (SBU) MFA: Hamad Al Kaabi, MFA Special Representative for International Nuclear Cooperation and UAE Permanent Representative to the IAEA, suggested to EconOff on June 10 that the MFA will help facilitate a meeting of appropriate UAE and US nuclear officials in July. ¶5. (SBU) Comment. While the interest is clearly there, a July visit may be a challenge. The UAE nuclear tender (Ref B) negotiations will involve many of our key UAE interlocutors. The draft UAE nuclear law, which will formally establish FANR and ENEC, may be finalized in July, but an exact date is unknown. Further, many UAE officials may be on leave in July. With additional details on visit objectives, Post will urge local parties to commit. End Comment. OLSON