OREANDA-NEWS. Some 600 participants including government ministers, policy makers and experts from around the world will gather at an IAEA conference in the United Arab Emirates next week to discuss the future of nuclear power, including challenges and opportunities.

The International Ministerial Conference on Nuclear Power in the 21st Century, which takes place from 30 October to 1 November in Abu Dhabi, will provide a forum for high-level dialogue on the role of nuclear power in meeting future energy demand, contributing to sustainable development and mitigating climate change. Participants from more than 60 IAEA Member States and five international organizations will also exchange views on key issues related to the development and deployment of nuclear power.

The conference is organized in cooperation with the Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development and hosted by the UAE Government through the Ministry of Energy and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation.

Ministers and senior officials from IAEA Member States will make national statements on issues including their countries’ energy strategy and vision for the role of nuclear power and challenges to its introduction, continued operation and expansion. In addition, four panel sessions with prominent speakers will discuss nuclear power and sustainable development; challenges to nuclear-power infrastructure development; nuclear safety and reliability; and innovations and advanced nuclear technologies.