Mar 20, 2024The Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation (FANR) took part in the 36th Annual Regulatory Information Conference (RIC), organized and hosted by the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) in Washington D.C. from 12th-14th of March.
The RIC brings together experts from various backgrounds such as the nuclear sector, regulatory bodies, industry, and academia to discuss and exchange information and expertise on topics of nuclear reactor safety, emergency preparedness, waste management, and regulatory policy, among other aspects.
During the conference FANR's delegation conducted several bilateral meetings with international partners in the margin of the conference including the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Nuclear Energy Agency, and the Finnish Radiation and Nuclear Safety Authority. FANR's delegation discussed different topics with its partners including nuclear reactor oversight, cybersecurity, and impact of climate change on nuclear facilities, beside other technical areas.
FANR's Director-General Christer Viktorsson also delivered an update on the UAE peaceful nuclear program and FANR's latest activities, and took part in a panel discussion titled “How Countries are Considering Leveraging International Regulatory Experience in their Licensing Reviews", where he showcased the UAE's effective methods of leveraging international cooperation and the experience of other countries to develop its own robust nuclear and radiation regulatory framework.
Meera Al Mheiri, FANR's Senior Inspection Engineer, was invited by the conference to talk about her experience and journey at FANR as a young nuclear engineer during a session titled “Nuke kids on the block". Young nuclear professionals shared insights during the session on how their organizations are recruiting and retaining the next generation of nuclear safety and security talent, touching on topics such as knowledge management and transfer, training, benefits, and other aspects.