UAE Community Blog: Nobody's Bothered About A Nuclear UAE, Then?

05 October, 2009

Nobody's Bothered About A Nuclear UAE, Then?

Scares me to death.

35 comments:

Al-ain Rose said...: Oh, scared? why? It's a peaceful nuclear power, isn't it? but I hope there will be a secret bomb.; 05 October, 2009 22:02
Anonymous said...: Ah, well, Obama. He sounds like he'd bribe his children if he caught them doing something wrong.

Like giving tons of aid to Pakistan so it helps the US in its war against terrorism. When he found out that Pakistan is using the money to develop weapons he took direct action - by giving it more aid!

Yes, a nuclear UAE sounds dangerous since there are not even clear policies, rumours of funding or at least laundering blood money, and the fact that the country can change with each ruler's vision or lack of it. Its a great place and doing well so far but so, so young...

Ah, well, Obama.; 05 October, 2009 22:33
Anonymous said...: Last time I've checked no one in the UAE was talking about annihilating other countries. Afraid that some terrorist manage to put their end on nuclear material? Unfortunately what is used in power plant and what is used in bombs in far from being the same thing. Just because it's radioactive doesn't mean it's ready to explode. I'm pretty sure you can kill more people by going on a rampage with a Hummer on SHZ road than you could with a bar of uranium.

The only thing that could scare me would be if Nakheel was in charge to build the plant with the lowest bidding chinese subcontractor.; 06 October, 2009 00:31
Anonymous said...: people in here are either too quite or too peaceful and no one is really bothered to write about it beyound the media usual announcements.; 06 October, 2009 09:07
Dew said...: nor about a Saudi one, or a Jordanian one; 06 October, 2009 10:39
Anonymous said...: The UAE is just a large American Base. Why would the west be bothered about having nuclear base from which to attack Iran and continue spreading it's imperialism from.; 06 October, 2009 10:53
Anonymous said...: Nah.. it's energy. I don't know why technology scares people like that.

What scares me is that with the technology comes army bases.. the French get to have a 5000-strong base in Al Ain.. to ah.. guard the nuclear reactor.; 06 October, 2009 14:52
hut said...: Nope. Nuclear energy is by far the cleanest, comparatively safest and most sustainable energy available today, and that's a fact, Keefieboy.; 06 October, 2009 15:50
Brn said...: I agree completely with nick.

If it wasn't so frustrating, it would be funny that the biggest worriers about climate change are also the biggest obstacles to replacing coal and oil with nuclear.; 06 October, 2009 18:24
Anonymous said...: PART I
Oh UAE
Why go all nucleary
When you have so much energy

PART II
A child plays with fire
Burns its fingers
And then cries all firey foul

PART III
Everything starts peacefully
Until there's a friction
Ending in kaboom

And so boys & girls ends the lesson of the day!; 07 October, 2009 18:22
Anonymous said...: Another toy for the spoiled rich kids who run the pplace. Another piece of vanity to clock up with all the other Big Things they have, and let's not forget the applalingly intrusive DNA database - the perfect tool for a modern day cuddly police state.

Freud would have a field day in this place. Sad and unimaginative beyond belief.

Grow up boys.

PS

Masdar is the exception which proves the rule.; 07 October, 2009 22:35
BuJ said...: This is a brilliant visionary move for the future.

Btw, oil doesn't always mean cheap electricity.

Nuclear power is a very efficient way to make electricity (except for the waste).

Plus the program is 100% civilian.; 07 October, 2009 23:38
Anonymous said...: "except for the waste"...

Yeah, you can simply burry that stuff somewhere in the desert as it is common here with all kinds of garbage. Drop and forget.; 08 October, 2009 12:33
Lirun said...: i would trust the uae; 08 October, 2009 15:05
BuJ said...: oh is that where they picked u up anon? in the desert?

i'm yet to find a non-stupid anon on this blog!; 08 October, 2009 16:40
Brn said...: anonymous,

Yes, the waste is a problem, but one more easily dealt with than the waste generated by coal and oil.; 08 October, 2009 17:10
B.D. said...: The UAE is currently required to import natural gas from Qatar to meet its energy needs. I believe, due to delays in getting these shipments, Dubai has been forced to burn oil to meet its (our) power needs--oil is a much dirtier alternative.

Another option which the UAE is pursuing is to process more of its own sour gas reserves, which is quite expensive, and sour gas production is quite dangerous--it is the same gas that killed thousands in Bhopal India in 1984.

With these concerns, nuclear energy seems to be a sensible proposition. Solar energy, e.g. Masdar style, might sound wonderfully eco-friendly, but I suspect it is hardly a practical or economical option now or in the near future. Nuclear appears to be the smartest way to go.; 09 October, 2009 21:56
Lirun said...: thought about it a bit more and i think its silly

with close proximity to vaste expanses of uninhabited desert the uae should pioneer a grid in the peninsula like the europeans are now proposing for north africa and the nearer east..

there is an excellent site talking about the project and the pros and cons of nuclear energy in one of its tabs

http://www.desertenergyproject.net/Desertec.html

check it out yall..; 10 October, 2009 05:58
Anonymous said...: Well, it's a great initiative. Clearly serves as an example for possible peaceful nuclear programs in the Middle East. This civilian nuclear program will help boost and fulfill the energy demands of booming cities in the U.A.E.; 11 October, 2009 06:54
Seabee said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 11 October, 2009 13:51
Seabee said...: Keefie, The National has a story today about the regulator overseeing safety, so we can all sleep peacefully now.

It's here.; 11 October, 2009 13:53
Anonymous said...: The question is how are you going to secure it? The AED 1200 monthly Indian security guard is not going to cut it!; 11 October, 2009 17:05
Anonymous said...: I think such a highly volatile facility would be protected by the armed forces, don't you think?; 11 October, 2009 20:26
nzm said...: Anon 11 October, 2009 17:05 said:

The question is how are you going to secure it? The AED 1200 monthly Indian security guard is not going to cut it!

This is how the new French military base will be justified.; 12 October, 2009 17:35
a question of a question said...: "Scares me to death."

Why keefieboy why? Just because UAE is not a western country doesnt mean that it is any less safe, capable, entitled to have nuclear plants.; 13 October, 2009 04:27
Keef said...: 'Why keefieboy why? Just because UAE is not a western country doesnt mean that it is any less safe, capable, entitled to have nuclear plants.'

It doesn't matter whether it's western, Russian, or whatever. But accidents happen, and when they do, the results can be catastrophic. I'm not worried about the UAE becoming a 'nuclear' state, I'm pretty sure they have no ambitions in that direction. At the moment.

What scares me is the threat of attack from neighbouring states or terrorist groups, and the possibility of human failure through inadequate training, crap management, forgetting to do maintenance, etc. (Don't tell me that's never occurred in the UAE).; 13 October, 2009 18:16
Anonymous said...: Keefieboy,

For now the official word is civilian PERIOD. Thus, anything to the contrary by any element(s) shall be construed as treason.

Ten years from now or maybe less when a marksman's crosshair is in place, we'll know the real story.

Nah, something similar to Chernobyl is out of the question :/; 13 October, 2009 20:29
Anonymous said...: @Keefieboy:

Well, if that's your concern, it can also be applied with Israel and Iran. What if one of their nuclear facilities get hit? This certainly would be catastrophic.

People fail to plan, to don't plan to fail. As for human errors, the U.A.E. has yet to establish such facility, and you're already having prophecies of an inevitable incubus, I wonder. It's not like the government in U.A.E. went like: "Oh, let's build this nuclear facility so that we subject ourselves to the tiniest amount of risk due to neighboring threats and terrorists' strikes"

With such attitude, a country won't be able to forgo its limits. It just doesn't work that way.; 13 October, 2009 22:29
Anonymous said...: It's intresting how this short blog is getting this much comments and in a very mature nice way.

I have to complement both Keefiboy and Khalood on there last comments, yes things could go wrong and what if they go wrong! are we prepaired or less preapired thats the question we have to ask ourselves since we have committed ourselves to this idea, Khalood being very optimistic and efensive is good but we don't have to be like so only becaues it has to do with something related to our country name, this is not intended to be a political debate and defend your country blog post at all, be informed that I am a U.A.E> citizen too; but I don't get emotional with facts most of the time nor I get enthusiastic alot when it comes to future intentions and talks, I set and watch and sometimes to observe very well I stand and watch from distance or the top:); 14 October, 2009 11:32
Lirun said...: what about setting aside the security debate for a moment and considering whether you wouldnt want the uae to pioneer other more advanced renewable energy sources that carry less risk such as solar energy or perhaps geo thermal etc..

why focus the efforts on this particular option when so many others exist..

if uae riches were invested in saudi sand fields and relevant research - uae could be primed as the next solar powerhouse..

that would be my strategic preference if i was in charge; 14 October, 2009 15:12
Anonymous said...: I totally agree with Lirun. It's just silly, UAE full of sun wants to invest billions in an unsolved problem of nuclear waste. Why do people make same mistakes over and over again. So sad!; 14 October, 2009 15:24
Oscar said...: I'd always assumed that this was what they were up to under the domes in Sheikh 7alifa Military City.; 16 October, 2009 14:31
Anonymous said...: @Jassim:

"are we prepaired or less preapired thats the question we have to ask ourselves since we have committed ourselves to this idea"

Indeed, I am optimistic; nonetheless, I also like to keep matter real and factual. No, I do not, honestly, think that we are ready. It will take us a decade or so to actually become potent enough in effectively tackling such a situation, if - God forbid - it were to happen.

"this is not intended to be a political debate and defend your country blog post at all, be informed that I am a U.A.E> citizen too; but I don't get emotional with facts most of the time nor I get enthusiastic alot when it comes to future intentions and talks"

It's nice to know. I was not being defensive in any way, but I was trying to seek a proper (emphasis or proper) justification, rather than having people throwing all kind of baseless and implausible opinions; it was just for that mere notion.

Personally, I do not agree with some of the government's policies, but I also acknowledge that people choose what works of them. So, I am very objective in that sense. It's nice to always know that people can amicably discuss various spectrum of topics, in order to cultivate a healthy venue that serves as a thought stimulant. :)

@Oscar:

"I'd always assumed that this was what they were up to under the domes in Sheikh 7alifa Military City.

Lol, I'd guess they'd desperately need that for medical purposes at Sheikh Zayed's Hospital.; 18 October, 2009 04:39
Anonymous said...: What about wind energy there is wide areas for wind mill instalations, and alot of wind.; 19 October, 2009 02:19
Dubai City Information said...: i totally second the wind energy idea. the desert sand is an ideal place. cheap land, cheap set up and great benefits. a very clean technology to implement relatively cheap compared to other stuff like nuclear, etc...; 05 November, 2009 08:58