VIENNA: Saudi Minister of Energy Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman has said that Saudi Arabia continues work on constructing the first nuclear power plant in the Kingdom, the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) reported on Monday.
In a statement at the 68th Session of the General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency today in Vienna, 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, and it continues to implement its national nuclear energy project with all its components, including the construction of the first nuclear power plant in the Kingdom 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 that Saudi Arabia has completed the basic administrative preparations related to the nuclear regulatory framework and the requirements for implementing the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and has submitted a request to the Agency in July of 2024 to rescind the Small Quantities Protocol and implement the full Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement.
He noted the Kingdom is currently working with the Agency to finalize all necessary subsidiary arrangements for the Small Quantities Protocol to be effectively rescinded by the end of December of this year.
The Minister also indicated that the Kingdom continues to stand by its legally binding international commitments pertaining to its national nuclear energy project.
Saudi Arabia to host international conference on nuclear emergencies
Prince Abdulaziz announced that Saudi Arabia will host an international conference on nuclear emergencies at the end of 2025 in Riyadh, as part of the Kingdom’s focus on preparedness for nuclear emergencies and in recognition of the Agency’s important role in this area.
He also highlighted the Kingdom’s participation in strengthening the radiological monitoring and early warning capabilities for nuclear incidents at the international center by providing the opportunity to benefit from its national capabilities in the international mechanism of radiological monitoring and early warning.
“As part of developing the Kingdom’s efforts in the cooperation with the Agency, the Kingdom deposited, on the seventh of August 2024, its instrument for acceptance of the IAEA’s Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities,” said Prince Abdulaziz.
Moreover, he stressed that the Kingdom has benefited from the IAEA’s Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission, which completed its task in October 2023.
Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman concluded with the Kingdom’s emphasis on the importance of the nuclear security and safety system, indicating that the responsibility for maintaining this system within any country rests entirely with the state in accordance with its national requirements and global obligations.
