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Nuclear energy infrastructure
institute at Khalifa University

ABU DHABI — Khalifa University signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday with Sandia National Laboratories (SNL) and the Texas Engineering Experiment Station of Texas A&M University System to develop and operate the Gulf Nuclear Energy Infrastructure Institute (GNEII).

The GNEII, based at Khalifa University, will be an educational, training and research hub for promoting nuclear safety, safeguards and security culture in the region.

It will provide the Gulf, and the surrounding region, with a continual source of indigenous nuclear energy professionals with whom the global community can effectively collaborate with to achieve broader nuclear energy safety, safeguards, security and non-proliferation priorities.

“This memorandum represents a great milestone for the UAE and its partners. It is consistent with the UAE framework for nuclear energy. With Khalifa University, Sandia National Laboratories and Texas Engineering Experiment Station of Texas A&M University System, the UAE will be well-placed to achieve excellence in the field of nuclear energy and can become a key regional player,” said Hamad Al Kaabi, UAE Permanent Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Special Representative for the International Nuclear Cooperation.

Douglas C. Greene, Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy, 
commended the GNEII as “an excellent example of the diversity of the strong US-UAE partnership and a clear demonstration of President Obama’s commitment to pursuing science and technology ties in the Gulf and the Muslim world more broadly.”

“In response to President Barak Obama’s call to introduce ‘centres of scientific excellence’ in the Middle East in his June 2009 speech in Cairo, SNL is excited to have developed GNEII as an innovative, technical hub,” stated Jill Hruby, vice-president, Energy, Non-proliferation and High Consequence Security at SNL.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com