Washington, DC

The U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council hosted a working lunch for 35 company members of its 123 Civilian Nuclear Energy Task Force with the CEO of Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC), Mohammed al-Hammadi to provide insight in to the U.A.E.’s civilian nuclear energy program.

U.S.-U.A.E. Business Council President Danny E. Sebright said that “it would be good if Mohammed al-Hammadi heard directly from a few of the Business Council’s members concerning reactions from Congressional Members and staff whom have been briefed by the Business Council on the 123 civilian nuclear agreement.”

ENEC CEO Mohammed Al-Hammadi thanked member company representatives who participated in the luncheon saying that, “we are already seeing results of the strategic economic partnership between the U.S. and the U.A.E. with the broad range of different companies in the civilian nuclear power sector across the supply chain participating in the U.A.E. economy.”

Mr. Al-Hammadi said the most pressing challenge facing ENEC was the dearth of trained Emirati nationals to assisting in managing and operating the country’s nascent civilian nuclear energy program. He detailed the existing training programs in the U.A.E. designed to equip young Emiratis with the marketable skills needed to run the country’s civilian nuclear program. Mr. Al-Hammadi placed a special focus on training engineers, followed by operators.

By way of background, ENEC will be the investment arm of the U.A.E. Government that in collaboration with foreign partners will specialize in the deployment and operation of peaceful nuclear plants within the U.A.E. and make strategic investments in the Emirates’ domestic nuclear sector.  ENEC will consider strategic investments in the civilian nuclear energy sector abroad in the future.