Top Lawmakers Endorse UAE-U.S. Nuclear Trade Deal

U.S. lawmakers introduced resolutions this week that would explicitly endorse a pending civilian nuclear cooperation agreement with the United Arab Emirates, Environment and Energy Daily reported (see GSN, July 9).

The deal signed during the Bush administration would grant the Gulf nation access to U.S. civilian nuclear materials and technology in exchange for its pledge not to produce its own reactor fuel or weapon-usable nuclear material. To annul the agreement, Congress must pass rejection legislation within 90 days of receiving the deal from the Obama administration. The pact would enter effect around Oct. 17 without congressional action, but the Atomic Energy Act requires lawmakers to consider approval resolutions.

The United Arab Emirates is considering bids from contractors from France, Russia and elsewhere to build its first nuclear power reactor; Abu Dhabi could award the deal in the fall. The nation intends to construct more than 10 nuclear power reactors in the next two decades.