Japan’s political row delays nuclear deal with UAE

A dispute within the Japanese government have caused delays in a nuclear agreement between Japan and the UAE.

ABU DHABI // A nuclear deal between Japan and the UAE is facing delays following a political disagreement within the Japanese government.

The Japan Times reported that the government of prime minister Shinzo Abe would not pursue approval to export nuclear technology to the UAE and also Turkey in this current parliamentary session, set to end on Friday.

The breakdown comes after a clash in Japan’s upper parliamentary house over a state secrets bill which prime minister Abe’s government is trying to pass into law, but has been criticised by both the Nippon Ishin no Kai (Japan Restoration party) and the Democratic party of Japan.

As a consequence, scheduled discussions on the UAE and Turkish agreements have been temporarily shelved.

“It is delayed because the ruling party is struggling with what is going on with the opposition, it is not only the UAE but Turkey,” said Saeed Al Nowais, the UAE ambassador to Japan.

“It has nothing to do with the UAE, but because they have problems with their own reactors and so, for that reason, the opposition are reluctant.

“It will be ratified sooner or later,” he said.

The original agreement signed in May was to establish “a framework that governs and facilitates cooperation in the area of peaceful nuclear energy and related applications between the two countries,” according to Hamad Al Kaabi, the UAE’s permanent representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Mr Al Kaabi was confident that an agreement would be reached.

“Ratification processes and time lines differ from one country to another, and we are confident that the agreement will eventually be brought into force as agreed when the text was signed,” he said.

“This is rather an internal government issue for Japan to determine the best time to submit the agreement for diet approval. Each government is best to judge its own internal process.

“Differences or late submission in the internal process in Japan does not necessarily mean an objection to the agreement or that such difference or delays are directly related to the UAE agreement.”

Mr Al Kaabi explained that the an agreement with Japan could be fruitful for both nations.

“The agreement, once brought into force, will facilitate the transfer of technology, components and nuclear material. The agreement is an important framework to facilitate future cooperation, including procurement of equipment between Japan and UAE.

“Even though UAE is importing major components from other parties, Japanese nuclear industries continue to be an important supplier for major components to global nuclear sector, and hence the importance of this agreement,” he said.

It is thought that Japanese technology could be used in the UAE’s own nuclear programme, which is being built under contract with Korea Electric Power Company (Kepco), but an official said that the delay in talks had not affected progress at the site.

“The agreement referenced in the article is a government to government cooperation agreement, signed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” said Fahad Al Qahtani, Director of External Affairs and Communications at the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Enec).

“In regards to our agreement with Kepco, I am happy to report that work is proceeding and work is progressing as expected,” he said.

With regard to the possible involvement of Japanese company Toshiba in the UAE’s own nuclear power plant, Mr Al Qahtani said that was not part of Enec’s remit.

“This is a contract managed by Kepco and it is for Kepco to manage the companies involved and the international supply chain,” he said.

According to The Japan Times, the delay could also affect a US$22 billion (Dh80.1bn) deal signed by Turkey and a Japanese-French consortium to construct a nuclear power plant on the Black Sea coast in 2017.