Reuters reported that the UAE nuclear regulator had asked the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation to explain how it would apply lessons learned from Japan's nuclear disaster to its proposed new nuclear reactors.

The United Arab Emirates said that it expects to start its first nuclear power plant in 2017. It expects nuclear energy to eventually account for 25% of its power requirements. Japan has battled to contain a radiation leak at its Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant following a massive earthquake and tsunami which ravaged the reactors on March 11.

Over the weekend, the spike in radiation levels forced a suspension of work at the complex in northeast Japan with experts warning that Japan faced a long fight to contain the world's most serious nuclear crisis since Chernobyl in 1986.

Mr William Travers DG of the UAE's Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation said that "We understand that ENEC has been following the developments since the tsunami struck Japan and is considering whether there are any implications for its planned units."

FANR requested Enec to provide by the end of April a description of its plans to review what happened on March 11 and to include any lessons learned into the design and operation of its proposed Braka reactors. The UAE independent nuclear safety regulator has been reviewing Enec's construction licence application for two nuclear power plants at the Braka site since December 27 last year.

Enec said that it specializes in the deployment, ownership and operation of nuclear power plants in Abu Dhabi thereby providing a reliable source of energy to meet the UAE's growing energy needs.

The UAE has struggled to meet power demand growth as its economy expands. It embarked on a nuclear program to meet that demand rather than burn more oil and export less crude at its power plants.

(Sourced from Reuters)