Washington, July 09: President Barack Obama formally submitted the so-called “123 Agreement” to Congress in May after determining it would enhance US national security, rather than pose an unreasonable risk.
The pact aims to help the UAE become the first Arab country with a civilian nuclear power industry that would fuel its growing demand for electricity.
Under the pact, the UAE must import, rather than produce, fuel for its nuclear reactors. It also has committed not to enrich uranium or reprocess spent nuclear fuel for plutonium, which is used in nuclear bombs.
The agreement would run for 30 years and create the legal framework for the US to transfer nuclear equipment, reactors and materiel for civil nuclear research to the UAE. The pact was signed in January by the departing Bush administration, which left the final decision to Obama.
Congress has until October 17 to pass legislation either amending or rejecting the deal. If no bill passes, the agreement goes into effect.
The UAE’s civilian nuclear programme, however, is not dependent on the US-UAE deal. It has signed similar agreements with other countries, including Russia, France and the United Kingdom.
While some lawmakers voiced concerns during Wednesday’s hearing about UAE’s export controls and nuclear technology finding its way to Iran, Tauscher reassured the committee that the UAE was a reliable partner and will follow the highest nonproliferation standards.
“This is not a risk reward situation,” Tauscher said. “We think that this is a very good deal for us when it comes to nonproliferation and national security concerns.”
—-Agencies