Post by : Badri Ariffin

In a breakthrough for the UAE’s civil nuclear sector, the Emirates Nuclear Energy Company (ENEC) announced that its Managing Director and Group CEO, His Excellency Mohamed Al Hammadi, has been appointed as Chairman of the World Association of Nuclear Operators (WANO) Atlanta Centre, a first for an Arab leader and a testament to the UAE’s growing role in international nuclear affairs.

The WANO-Atlanta Centre connects over 100 commercial nuclear units in North America with select international partners, playing an essential role in enhancing performance metrics, peer evaluations, and safety protocols across the nuclear landscape worldwide.

With over a decade of involvement in WANO, Al Hammadi has been a member of the Atlanta Centre’s governing board since 2015 and served as WANO President from 2022 to 2024. His new role arrives as the United States pushes to fast-track civil nuclear projects with fresh federal backing and strategic industry collaborations.

This announcement also follows ENEC's collaboration agreements with top U.S. nuclear firms, such as Westinghouse and GE Vernova, which aim to propel new project development, enhance fuel supply chains, and explore investment possibilities in advanced nuclear technologies. With operational guidelines attuned to U.S. standards and regulatory frameworks informed by U.S. NRC protocols, ENEC is poised to swiftly advance joint U.S.-UAE nuclear initiatives.

UAE’s credibility in the nuclear domain has been solidified by the successful Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, the Arab world’s first multi-unit nuclear facility, generating 40 TWh of clean electricity yearly, meeting 25% of the nation’s power requirements, and standing as the region's primary electricity source. Its proven performance has positioned the UAE among the most dependable civil nuclear operators across the globe.

With Al Hammadi’s leadership at WANO’s Atlanta Centre, the UAE is set to enhance its influence in global nuclear safety and collaboration, while actively expanding its partnerships within the rapidly evolving civil nuclear sector.

#Global News