Nuclear plants needed to meet energy demand: UAE paper

Abu Dhabi, Nov 14 (IANS/WAM) The United Arab Emirates (UAE) should look for alternatives to natural resources and nuclear plants for each emirate should be part of a long-term federal strategy, a prominent newspaper of the region has said.

As the UAE’s population is set to increase up to 12 million in the foreseeable future, the country, in the long-term, will not have enough gas to generate adequate amount of power, the Dubai-based Gulf News said in its editorial.

Therefore, the UAE is right to look at alternatives to oil and gas as sources of power, and nuclear energy is one option, the paper said.

“Each emirate needs to plan for its future, and Abu Dhabi has commissioned four nuclear reactors. Dubai in turn has just announced plans for larger energy-generating capacity, which will include nuclear- and coal-sourced power.”

The daily also suggested the government to adopt a more transparent policy to get the private sector involved in power generation.

–IANS/WAM