Saudi Arabia is pressing ahead with its plan to develop nuclear energy and radiation technologies for peaceful purposes, including construction of its first NPP, Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud told the 68th Session of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) General Conference in Vienna. Al Saud, who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors of King Abdullah City for Atomic & Renewable Energy (KACARE) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Saudi Nuclear & Radiological Regulatory Commission, said the NPP project will enhance the national energy mix and support sustainable development.
He noted that Saudi Arabia has completed the essential administrative preparations related to nuclear regulatory framework and the requirements for implementing a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement and also submitted a request to the IAEA in July to rescind the Small Quantities Protocol (SQP). “We are currently working with the Agency to finalise all necessary subsidiary agreements for the SQP to be effectively rescinded by the end of December of this year 2024,” he said.
As Saudi Arabia currently has no operating nuclear reactor, its programme can still be monitored under the SQP, which exempts less advanced states from many reporting obligations and inspections. IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has been urging states that still have SQPs to amend or rescind them, describing them as a “weakness” in the global non-proliferation regime, pressing them instead to switch to a Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement. “Saudi Arabia’s decision to rescind its Small Quantities Protocol increases [the IAEA]’s ability to verify the peaceful use of nuclear material in the country,” Grossi said on X, and commended the move.
As part of developing its cooperation with IAEA, the Kingdom in August deposited its instrument for acceptance of the IAEA’s Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities. “The Kingdom is committed to several international instruments related to nuclear fields, including those concerning nuclear security, safety, and safeguards,” Al Saud said.
He added that Saudi Arabia had also hosted an IAEA Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS) mission in 2023, which assessed the national nuclear regulatory efforts and the overall integration of national nuclear regulatory framework.
“This mission commended the Kingdom’s commitment to radiation safety standards and noted the progress in the regulatory nuclear and radiological framework and the commitment to continuously developing practices according to the highest international standards,” he stated.
He also announced that the Kingdom will host an international conference on nuclear emergencies at the end of 2025 in Riyadh in recognition of the Agency’s important role in this area. He noted that the Kingdom is looking forward to the cooperation of states in ensuring the success of this conference, which will contribute to enhancing the global response to nuclear and radiological emergencies.
The Kingdom is also collaborating with the IAEA to host a workshop on the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management & the Safety of Radioactive Waste Management, which will invite states non-party to the Convention to enhance global efforts towards the universality of this Convention,” he added.
Researched and written by Judith Perera
