GCC NUCLEAR RESEARCH TRAINING CENTER STILL SEVERAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L DOHA 000623

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/15/2019
TAGS: EPET ENRG ECON IAEA QA
SUBJECT: GCC NUCLEAR RESEARCH TRAINING CENTER STILL SEVERAL
YEARS AWAY

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(C) KEY POINTS
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-- In coordination with the IAEA and the Qatari Ministry of
Environment, the GCC held a three-day workshop on 28-30
September in Doha to discuss the possibility of developing a
Regional Nuclear Training Center.

-- The GCC representatives listened to a series of
presentations from a number of experts in the nuclear field
before providing (with the exception of Bahrain and the UAE)
their own goals and vision for nuclear power.

-- At the end of the workshop, the GCC representative
informed the gathered experts that the GCC was sitting on a
draft strategic plan for the center. This came as a surprise
to the experts. All participants agreed that discussion of
the details should wait until sometime after the GCC fully
approves the draft.

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(C) COMMENTS
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-- The workshop stated goal was to discuss, assess, and
agree upon next steps to develop a nuclear training center in
the GCC region. However, given the varying needs, desires,
capabilities and political views of the various GCC
countries, it will likely be a while before a training center
is established. In the short term, it is likely that each
country will pursue its own nuclear ambitions independently.

-- It appeared that some of the GCC countries, Kuwait and
Bahrain in particular, did not understand the intent of the
workshop, especially the importance of having a specific
reason/justification for nuclear power.

End Key Points and Comments.


1. (SBU) Embassy officers attended the September 28-30 Doha
workshop jointly coordinated by the IAEA, GCC and the Qatari
Ministry of Environment to discuss the possibility of
establishing a Regional Nuclear Training Center in the GCC
region. All six GCC countries had representatives in
attendance. A number of nuclear experts from Europe and the
United States also attended. IAEA representative Danas
Ridikas opened the workshop.


2. (C) Following initial introductions, a number of experts
invited by the IAEA made a series of presentations on
nuclear-related topics. The stated purpose of the
presentations was to help the GCC to prepare and formulate a
plan for developing a training center. The experts talked
about how to initiate work on nuclear power, the importance
of training and education, the case for accelerators, and the
need for research reactors. The speakers included the
Institute Manager for Advanced Nuclear Systems in Belgium,
Dr. Hamid Ait Abderrahim; Business Development Manager for
the French company Areva, Maurice Vallin; and Dr. Steve
Reese, the Director of the Radiation Center at Oregon State
University. While each presentation and presenter had a
different focus, the overarching theme was that GCC countries
must articulate a justified need for nuclear power before
moving forward. Further, during side conversations the
experts expressed their unanimous belief that a GCC regional
nuclear training center is at least 8 years away. They also
all stressed the importance of close cooperation with the
IAEA and the need for the western powers - not Russia and
China - to provide the require dexpertise and training in the
nuclear field.


3. (C) On the second day of the workshop, each country
provided a short presentation on its plan/need for nuclear
power. Dr. Ilham al-Qaradawi, a professor of physics at
Qatar University, gave Qatar's presentation. Dr. Qaradawi
explained that while Qatar has not completely ruled out
nuclear energy, it is focusing its efforts on medical
applications, such as radiography. She described the efforts
undertaken at Sidra Medical Center and at Texas A&M's Qatar
Branch. She highlighted her work on getting a memorandum of
understanding signed between Texas A&M and GOQ, which is
needed before moving forward.


4. (C) Dr. Ahmad Dhofar al-Rawas, the workshop's chairman and
professor of physics at Sultan Qaboos University in Oman,
gave Oman's presentation. During his short talk, Dr. Rawas
emphasized Oman's need for alternative energy sources, noting
that Oman recently began importing coal. He did not provide
a specific plan for nuclear energy, indicating that Oman is
still in the first stages of considering any nuclear

development. The Kuwaiti presentation was very disorganized,
and while it made clear that Kuwait plans to explore the
possibility of establishing a nuclear power plant, it failed
to adequately explain why Kuwait needs one. This lack of
justification provoked several questions from the experts and
IAEA representative, prompting the head of the Kuwaiti
delegation to explain that the GOK had recently formed a
five-person committee, of which he is a member, to explore
the nuclear option, but that nothing had yet been agreed
upon. He hoped to come better prepared to the next workshop.



5. (C) Dr. Khalid al-Issa, the Director of Saudi Arabia,s
Atomic Energy Research Institute (AERI),gave the Saudi
presentation. He provided a basic overview of AERI's work
and efforts to advance nuclear medicine and energy in the
Kingdom. It was clear that Saudi Arabia is the most advanced
of all GCC nations, and best prepared to house a training
center. During a side conversation, Pol/Econ Officer Petty
learned that Issa is exploring the possibility of sending a
number of Saudi students to Oregon State University to study
advanced nuclear science. As for Bahrain and the UAE,
neither gave a presentation, citing a lack of preparedness.
The Bahraini delegation also said its government had
instructed representatives merely to observe.


6. (C) On the final day of the workshop, Dr. Mohamad H.
al-Qubaisi, the GCC's main representative, revealed that the
GCC was sitting on a draft strategic plan for the center,
which came as a surprise to the experts, who were told that
the purpose of the workshop was to work out the details for
the center. Following the revelation, all in attendance
agreed to hold off on discussing the details of establishing
a center until the GCC main body approves the draft.
Finally, two additional workshops scheduled for later this
year have been postponed until 2010 due to lack of funding.



LeBaron