U.A.E. Needs To Determine Nuclear Fuel Disposal Plan, Blix Says

08 February 2011

BLOOMBERG (DUBAI)-The United Arab Emirates needs to determine how to dispose of used nuclear fuel as part of its energy development program, government adviser and former United Nations chief weapons inspector Hans Blix said. “The question of a final disposal plan is still open and more attention should be spent on deciding what to do,” Blix, chairman of an independent advisory group set up by the government, told reporters on 7 February. He added that the federation currently focused on implementing regulations and building the plants. Source: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-08/u-a-e-needs-to-determine-nuclear-fuel-disposal-plan-blix-says.html (Reliability: 47.91--High)

Comment:
The federation will be the first Gulf Arab country to develop nuclear power if it starts up its first reactor in 2017 as planned. Abu Dhabi, the largest sheikhdom in the U.A.E. and the nation’s capital, owns Emirates Nuclear Energy Corp., the only company that plans to build the power plants in the country.

Pakistani Nuclear Weapons Arsenal On Track To Be World's Fifth Largest

01 February 2011

GLOBAL SECURITY NEWSWIRE (WASHINGTON) Recent U.S. intelligence estimates claim Pakistan is rapidly increasing the size of its nuclear stockpile and could become the fifth largest nuclear arms possessor. United States officials believe Pakistan has roughly 90 to 110 nuclear weapons. When President Obama assumed office in 2009, the United States believed Islamabad's nuclear forces numbered in the upper 70s. US officials believe India possesses between 60 and 100 nuclear weapons. Source: http://gsn.nti.org/gsn/nw_20110201_5282.php (Reliability: 39.52 -- Moderate)

Analysis:
Increased Pakistani nuclear development is unlikely to change Pakistan's relationship with India or the rest of the world. Pakistan already possesses enough nuclear weapons to present a credible nuclear threat to India. (Analytic Confidence: Low)