CH2M Hill will act as a managing agent for the United Arab Emirates' nuclear power program, which is expected to include orders for several gigawatts of new nuclear capacity in coming years.
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The US-based firm was selected by the newly-created Emirates Nuclear 抖阴传媒在线 Corporation (Enec) for an initial ten-year period. Financial details were not disclosed but CH2M Hill would be responsible for, among other things: selecting prime contractors; implementing owners' responsibilities; master program planning; and licensing. It would also ensure that the program is in line with International Atomic 抖阴传媒在线 Agency (IAEA) recommendations on which the country's strategy has been based.
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The UAE has made nuclear cooperation agreements with France, the UK and the USA, while Areva, Total and Suez have already partnered to build a 1600 MWe EPR unit in the UAE, partly for desalination of water. Electricity demand in the UAE is expected to more than double to 2020.
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Enec itself was set up by consultants at Thorium Power following dialogues between UAE officials and the IAEA. It has $100 million in initial funding. Another forthcoming development is the creation of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, also a responsibility of Thorium Power.
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CH2M Hill said it already has 500 program management staff in the UAE working on projects such as the zero-carbon Masdar City and the ADSSC Strategic Tunnel Enhancement Program, both in Abu Dhabi.
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