Saudi Nuclear Power Plant: Energy Minister Highlights Significant Progress

Saudi Arabia is making headway in its plans to utilize nuclear energy and radiation technologies for peaceful purposes, according to Asharq Al-Awsat.

This comes as part of the Kingdom’s national nuclear energy project, which aims to diversify Saudi Arabia’s economy, reduce the consumption of fossil fuels, and contribute to the national energy mix.

First Nuclear Plant

At the 68th Session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), held in Vienna, the Saudi Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, said that the Kingdom is making rapid progress in benefiting from nuclear energy.

He said: “Given the importance of nuclear energy in social and economic development, the Kingdom is moving towards benefiting from nuclear energy and its radiation applications for peaceful purposes.”

Prince Abdulaziz, also Chairman of the Board of Directors of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy and Chairman of the Board of Directors of Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission, added that Saudi Arabia is making progress in implementing the elements of its national nuclear energy project.

This includes “the construction of its first nuclear power plant to contribute to the national energy mix and to achieve the sustainable national development in accordance with the national requirements and within the framework of the international commitments,” he said.

Cooperation with IAEA

The Saudi Energy Minister noted that Saudi Arabia is cooperating with the IAEA to finalize all the necessary preparations, stressing that the Kingdom is complying with international commitments related to its nuclear energy project.

According to Prince Abdulaziz, Saudi Arabia has completed the essential administrative preparations related to nuclear regulatory framework and the requirements for implementing the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. Moreover, it submitted a request to the IAEA in July 2024 to rescind the Small Quantities Protocol (SQP) and implement the full Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.

“We are currently working with the Agency to finalize all necessary subsidiary agreements for the SQP to be effectively rescinded by the end of December of this year 2024,” he noted.

As part of its deepening cooperation with the IAEA, the Kingdom “deposited, on August 7 its instrument for acceptance of the IAEA’s Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities,” Prince Abdulaziz added.

Concerted Efforts

Saudi Arabia continues to comply with its legally binding international commitments related to its national nuclear energy project. “Its national legislation and institutional infrastructure satisfy all requirements for controlling nuclear materials and technology, as well as regulating exports, consistent with its obligations and fulfilling its important role under the international non-proliferation regime,” the Saudi Energy Minister said.

He emphasized the Kingdom’s commitment to “several international instruments related to nuclear fields, including those concerning nuclear security, safety, and safeguards.”

Furthermore, “Saudi Arabia is collaborating with the IAEA to host a workshop on the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, which will invite states non-party to the Convention to boost global efforts towards the universality of this Convention,” he said.

Responding to Nuclear Emergencies

As part of the Kingdom’s efforts to boost preparedness to nuclear emergencies, Saudi Arabia will host an international conference on nuclear emergencies in Riyadh at the end of 2025. Prince Abdulaziz said the Conference will also recognize the IAEA’s critical role in this area.

Additionally, he expressed the Kingdom’s desire to see enhanced cooperation between countries to ensure the conference’s success. This, in turn, will boost the global response to nuclear and radiological emergencies.

The Saudi Minister added that the Kingdom is significantly contributing to strengthening the radiological monitoring and early warning capabilities for nuclear incidents at the IAEA’s International Emergency Center. This includes allowing the Center to benefit from its national capabilities in the global system of radiological monitoring and early warning.

He also said the Kingdom is glad to offer its capabilities to the IAEA and the International Emergency Center in other areas, such as predicting the impacts of nuclear and radiological incidents on the environment.

Saudi Nuclear Milestones

Under the transformative Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has embarked on its nuclear power program, aiming to reduce its reliance on oil revenues, diversify power production and promote energy sustainability. According to estimations, the Saudi first power plant will produce 2.8 gigawatts of power.

In December 2023, the IAEA Director General, Rafael Mariano Grossi, visited Saudi Arabia to take a closer look at the Kingdom’s preparations for its first nuclear plant.

Grossi’s visit included he King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE), the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission (NRRC) headquarters, in addition to the NRRC laboratories and its nuclear and radiological Emergency Preparedness Centre.

The IAEA Director General praised the Saudi government’s efforts towards developing its nuclear sector, commending the “degree of professionalism” in the Saudi nuclear sector. “I see a wide panoply of institutions that work very well together and that have a clear way forward, and my impressions are indeed very positive,” he said.

Moreover, Grossi visited the Low Power Research Reactor at the King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), which will provide the technical expertise and training opportunities for nuclear scientists and engineers.

He said: “Saudi Arabia is at the doorsteps of nuclear operation starting with the research reactor and later with bigger facilities. The workforce here, the professionals, the women and men that work in the Saudi nuclear sector are perfectly prepared to look toward this new chapter in the life of the Kingdom.”