The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, FANR, the UAE’s Nuclear Regulator, announced on Monday that it has certified the first group of 15 UAE National Senior Reactor Operators, SROs, and Reactor Operators, ROs, at Nawah Energy Company, the operations and maintenance subsidiary of the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, ENEC.

The certification is part of complying with FANR’s Regulation 17 ‘Regulation for the Certification of Operating Personnel at Nuclear Facilities’ that dictates requirements for the training and qualification of Senior Reactor Operators and Reactor Operators, and ensures their competence to operate the nuclear energy plant. In addition, the certification of SROs and ROs is a key requirement for future receipt of the Operating Licence.   

A reactor operator is responsible for operating and managing the main control room, MCR, of a nuclear energy plant during regular operations and emergencies including starting up a nuclear reactor, shutting down a nuclear reactor, and monitoring reactor parameters.

The SROs manage the control room and supervise the ROs and Field Operators to ensure adherence to high standards of nuclear safety in order to protect the health and safety of the public and optimise energy generation for the UAE grid.

“This is a major milestone for the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme. Investing in building Emirati nuclear expertise is pivotal for the sustainability of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme to attain the nation’s ambitious goals. FANR has played a critical role to certify the reactor operators and verifying their competence and readiness to operate the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant in accordance with the highest standards of safety to ensure the protection of the public and the environment,” said Christer Viktorsson, FANR Director-General.

Mohamed Al Hammadi, Chief Executive Officer of ENEC, said, “The certification of Nawah’s first group of UAE National Senior Reactor Operators and Reactor Operators represents a significant step forward in the nation’s efforts to build capacity, skills and talent for the future of the UAE’s nuclear energy industry.”

“The UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Programme is creating new, high value job opportunities that will play a significant role in diversifying the UAE’s economy and supporting sustainable economic development for decades to come,” he added.

WAM