Panel to Discuss Nuclear Energy Safeguards in Middle East and North Africa
International nuclear science leaders to deliberate best practices at 2013 ANS Winter Meeting
The United Arab Emirates are on track to become the first Arab country by the end of the decade to deliver electricity through nuclear power. With domestic energy growth continuing at a fast pace in both the Middle East as well as North Africa, many questions surrounding security and non-proliferation still exist.
A panel of nuclear energy leaders in these regions will discuss strategies and implications for the world community at the 2013 American Nuclear Society (ANS) Winter Meeting in Washington, D.C. The two-part panel session, hosted by the Non-Proliferation Technical Group, a division of ANS, features leaders from the Lightbridge Corporation, International Atomic Energy Agency, Arab Atomic Energy Agency, the UAE Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, and more.
“Nuclear non-proliferation, security and safeguards challenges in the Arab world require technical, geopolitical, socioeconomic strategies, and solutions that in many instances are country-specific,” says panel chair Dr. Rian Bahran. “We need the best minds in the field to understand the associated multidisciplinary challenges associated with these topics. An open panel discussion is a format that lends itself well to dissecting these issues with the aid of questions and comments from a uniquely diverse audience of nuclear experts.”
ANS hosted a precursor conversation last year, and this year will continue the dialogue by exploring political and market challenges for the United States and the international community. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is on track to build 16 nuclear power plants of the next 20 years, while other Middle East countries have had discussions about pursuing nuclear technology for electricity and water desalination needs.
ANS is recognized as the leading organization to facilitate challenging dialogues for nuclear scientists and policy leaders, and remains committed to expanding the peaceful use of nuclear science and technology to improve the quality of life around the world.
