E-Fusion 2021: 30 Emirati And French Companies Joined Forces To Enhance The UAE’s Nuclear Local Supply Chain

Business France, the national agency supporting the international development of the French economy, partnered by the Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) and GIFEN (French Nuclear Cluster) started a two-day in-person event to facilitate Emirati and French nuclear industry meetings in the United Arab Emirates. Part of the E-FUSION program initiated by ENEC, EDF& GIFEN in 2019, these meetings reinforce the UAE-France partnership in the nuclear energy field and support the development of the UAE’s fast growing local supply chain.

Leading the development of the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program, ENEC is committed to ensuring adherence to the highest safety standards. Therefore France, with its proven nuclear experience over the past 60 years, is a key international partner that can support the development of the UAE’s nuclear sector and supply chain.

Held in Dubai, 100+professionalsattended E-Fusion. French companies specialised in engineering, safety, radiation protection, fuel cycle management and environmental monitoring, are meeting the end-users of ENEC and Nawahduring B2B meetings with key Emirati companies, with the aim of establishing synergies to enable new partnerships and joint ventures.

Demonstrating E-Fusion’s role as a catalyst for French Emirati partnerships, three main players formally signed an agreement with their Emirati partners, in order to create an on-site supply chain in the presence of the leadership of ENEC, Nawah, and the French nuclear community.

On this occasion, Barakah Nuclear Energy Plantopportunities are set to be introduced, followed by a networking session. Eight workshops and learning exchanges are scheduled to be hosted by industry representatives (Endel, Nuvia, Fevdi, Veolia, CEA, I2EN, ENEC and Framatome) and research centres currently working for ENEC andNawah.

Part of this highly qualified task force, Khalifa University and the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation, are taking part in the event.

“This event happens because of the incredible achievements the UAE has made in the field of nuclear, being able to pull off the Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant and start its operations. On another hand, France, as a nuclear nation, has an incredible wealth of experience, technologies and know-how in the nuclear sector that should be put to the benefits of the UAE. With regards to this event, not less than 45 French and Emirati companies gathered for this strategic event, E-Fusion is a perfect opportunity for institutions to increase this dialogue. Humbly, I can count on the French companies as well as the UAE entities to make this event a great success, while pitching their solution, exploring business opportunities, in order to identify areas where we can increase our cooperation”. commented H.E. Xavier Chatel Ambassador of France to the United Arab Emirates.

“We are committed to delivering the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program to the highest international standards of quality and safety, through collaboration with established nuclear nations.  With the French nuclear sector being amongst the most established globally, stimulating partnerships between Emirati and French companies supports the development of the UAE nuclear sector supply chain for sustainable operations of the Barakah plant over the coming 60 years ahead, as well as enabling opportunities for collaboration in nuclear R&D and innovation. It is our pleasure to support UAE-France partnerships in the nuclear energy sector to help advance the UAE’s energy transition, meeting climate change goals while in parallel sustainably powering national economic growth and diversification.” commented H.E. Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, CEO of ENEC.

“Thanks to the high quality of France-United Arab Emirates relations and trustiness, France is fully aware of the objectives of the UAE authorities as well as private operators in terms of energy transition. Thus, France is entirely prepared to accompany this change with its best assets, today in the nuclear energy production sector. This is evidenced by the third edition of E-Fusion, enriched by an important delegation of French companies ready to be given the chance of presenting their technological offers, their products, and advanced solutions. The E-Fusion initiative is an important milestone of our partnership. This event gives a unique opportunity to share experiences and identify activities that could be expanded in the UAE to develop the Emirati nuclear program.” commented Frederic Szabo, French Trade and Invest Commissioner, managing director of Business France Middle East.

Since 2019, the French nuclear industry is structured through the initiative “E-FUSION” to partner with ENECand its operating and maintenance joint venture subsidiary Nawah on the UAE Peaceful Nuclear Energy Program. Despite the COVID-19 global pandemic in 2020, more than 30 French companies and 15 Emirati companies have continued to work together to identify opportunities in the UAE nuclear sector.

The French nuclear power, a global reference: 

• 1^stElectricity exporter in Europe,
• 2^ndlargest nuclear facilities in the world by capacity,970 M USD invested in R&D,
• EDF is the world’s leading nuclear electrician,
• Electro-nuclear, a sector of excellence, is the 3^rdlargest French industrial sector, and involves3000 companies (most of them SMEs and mid-size company) and 220,000 employees,

E-Fusioncompanies:

FEVDI: Specialised in the consulting, design and manufacture of chemical products and equipment for nuclear decontamination.

ENDEL: Specialised in nuclear maintenance.

CERAP:  Specialised in radiation protection, health and safety, radiological measurement instrumentation, operating and facility safety, training.

SIEM: Specialised in industrial sealing solutions that satisfy the toughest requirements in terms of fluid transfer (processes, utilities) as well as high temperature applications.

REEL: Specialised in the supply, modernisation and maintenance of lifting and handling equipment for nuclear power plants (loading equipment, polar cranes, machine room cranes) and for fuel cycle installations (storage centre cranes), with an in-depth knowledge of the unique regulations of each country.

NUVIA: NUVIA is an international group specialised in nuclear technology, through three fields of activities: Engineering – Services and Works – Products. NUVIA is the nuclear branch of SoletancheFreyssinet, a subsidiary of Vinci Construction Group.

LATTY GROUP: French industrial sealing specialist.

QUADRICA: Offers intuitive solutions for the display, management and analysis of data from 3D scan campaigns. MySurvey has become an industrial benchmark among the major energy and transport players and an essential tool in the maintenance and decommissioning of French nuclear power plants.

VELAN: Manufacturers of valves in the nuclear sector.

OAKRIDGE: Single-sector (nuclear only) and multi-business independent engineering and consulting company (all engineering fields).

TRILLIUM: Design and production of high-performance safety valves, suitable for all types of nuclear reactors.

VEOLIA: Specialised in the decommissioning and treatment of nuclear waste.

FRAMATOME: Designer and supplier of nuclear steam supply system and nuclear equipment, services, and fuel for high levels of safety and performance. Subsidiary of the EDF group since 2018.

ASSYSTEM: Specialised in engineering and management of critical and complex infrastructure projects for major global industrial groups, mainly in the nuclear field.

SPIE:SPIE provides integrated engineering and service for nuclear safety, quality, security and environmental protection.

TECHNIP : Technip is a leading technology provider to the traditional and new energy industries, delivering fully integrated projects, products, and services.

EGIS: Egis is a major international group in the construction engineering and mobility services sectors whose unique global service range encompasses infrastructure consulting, engineering, and operation.

PEMFLOW: Pemflowis a leading turnkey filtration provider. They are involved from the equipment sizing and design stage right through to manufacture and commissioning.