In December 2009, a U.S. business delegation plans to arrive in the UAE
to assess opportunities in the nuclear energy project. Members of the
U.S.-UAE Business Council and the Washington-based Nuclear Energy Institute
were preparing to meet UAE ministers, business leaders and prospective
partners on Dec. 13-15.
The UAE project was expected to reach $41 billion over the next decade.
Industry sources said Abu Dhabi was drafting a plan for at least six nuclear
energy reactors along with infrastructure and training.
So far, Abu Dhabi has awarded more than $1 billion for the planning
stage of the nuclear project. American companies have won most of the
contracts.
One U.S. entry was identified as Lightbridge Corp., which produces
non-proliferation nuclear fuel and has opened an office in Abu Dhabi. The
American firm, formerly Thorium Power, has been working with France's Areva
on the UAE project.
Executives said the UAE would be the first client of Thorium's
non-proliferation nuclear fuel technology. The company, with a five-year
consultancy contract with Abu Dhabi, hopes that other countries would adopt
the UAE model and order similar technology.
"We are also playing a key role in shaping the UAE's nuclear program,
the most widely praised new nuclear program globally," Lightbridge said.
Other U.S. companies searching to enter the UAE market were identified
as CH2MHill, Englewood and Rizzo.
India plans to be a leading competitor in the UAE project. India, with a
huge expatriate labor community that includes senior civil servants, has
sent delegations to discuss subcontracts in the UAE nuclear sector.
"We are setting up an office in Abu Dhabi because we expect a lot of
subcontract work for the UAE nuclear power project," an Indian executive,
who did not want to be identified, said. "Many other companies in the region
are flocking to Abu Dhabi to utilize future business opportunities from the
nuclear power projects."
