The Mena Nuclear Renaissance

The paper reviews the declared nuclear ambitions of Middle East and North African (MENA) countries, shows the importance of a coordinated legal framework, and reviews the current position. The MENA region is famous for its fossil fuels, yet many countries in the region have declared an intention to use (or at least consider using) nuclear power for much of their future energy needs. The sense of such a policy is clear: as with many other parts of the world, a number of countries in the region face an energy shortfall, and nuclear power is seen as providing a relatively clean and cheap energy source as well as enabling the continued export of fossil fuels to other parts of the world. First off the blocks was the UAE, with a contract award to the South Koreans at the end of 2009, site selection announced in April 2010 and licence applications submitted. Power to the grid is scheduled is for 2017. Progressing with their plans are Jordan and Egypt, and countries with a stated intention to consider nuclear include the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar. While technical feasibility is obviously critical, this paper considers the progress of the legal and regulatory frameworks within the region – the legal building blocks to nuclear new build. Again the UAE is leading the way, with the creation of a distinct and independent regulatory authority, but what are the proposals and progress in the other MENA countries? Have any of them evinced an intention to adopt the international conventions on liability for third party nuclear damage, and if not, can the international investment community, the supply chain and especially the public, be convinced that their interests are adequately protected?