Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (ENEC) has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UAE Cyber Security Council to support the development and review of strategies, policies and standards governing the cybersecurity of the UAE’s energy sector.
The MoU will increase the strategic alliance between the two organisations through the exchange of information, expertise and training support, with ENEC providing experts for the establishment of a national-level Security Operations Centre, according to the state news agency, WAM.
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Mohamed Ibrahim Al Hammadi, MD and CEO of ENEC, said: “This is an important step in the journey to evolve the nation’s cyber strategies and further advance its intellectual wealth. Cybersecurity is a critical focus for ENEC as we work to ensure we are well-equipped to mitigate any potential cyber challenges. By working closely with the UAE Cyber Security Council, we are committed to sharing best practices and ensuring the UAE strengthens its position as a world leader in innovation with the most advanced cyber systems.”
The Barakah Nuclear Energy Plant, owned and developed by ENEC, is the first fully digitalised nuclear energy plant in the world. All its systems are aligned to the approved cyber standards in cooperation with the Cyber Security Council to ensure compliance.
Dr Mohammed Hamad Al Kuwaiti, head of cyber security of the UAE government, said, “The MoU aims to unite efforts and capabilities in order to develop and disseminate modern technologies that enhance and contribute to the establishment of protected infrastructure.”
The MoU builds on the first CyberEnergy Leadership Forum held recently, organised by ENEC in partnership with the UAE Cyber Security Council, and held in collaboration with the US Department of State, the US Department of Energy and leading international experts. The forum saw more than 117 experts share best practices to enable the clean energy transition.
The Cyber Security Council and ENEC will host another CyberEnergy Leadership Forum in 2023, to highlight issues linked to cybersecurity strategy and implementation.
Under the terms of the agreement, the council and ENEC will collaborate to develop and conduct periodic exercises for the energy sector to respond to any cyber incidents.
In recent news, ENEC announced that its operations and maintenance subsidiary, Nawah Energy Company (Nawah), has successfully connected Unit 3 of the Barakah Nuclear energy Plant to the UAE’s transmission grid.