Saudi Arabia will establish nuclear research reactor in bid to diversify its energy portfolio

/ Energy & Power / Wednesday, 07 November 2018 08:35

Saudi Arabia has formally announced that it will establish the Kingdom’s very first nuclear research reactor in an effort to diversify its energy portfolio.

The announcement was made by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman who has been subjected to intense criticism from political leaders globally over his suspected involvement in the murder of a Saudi journalist that was killed in Turkey.

The nuclear research reactor project is one of seven new projects that will be launched by the Saudi Crown Prince which was announced during his visit to Riyadh’s King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology.

Details in relation to when the research or non-power reactor will be constructed and the cost of the project were not disclosed by Saudi officials. Saudi Arabia is the world’s largest exporter of crude oil and it currently draws on oil and natural gas to meet its own fast-growing power requirements.

In addition to this, it has been disclosed that the KSA plan to build 16 nuclear reactors over the next two decades at a cost of around $80 billion, despite growing concerns over nuclear proliferation in the Middle East.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has confirmed that Saudi Arabia would develop a nuclear weapon if it emerges that Iran has developed one. MBS has been very vocal in his criticism and condemnation of the Iranian regime, and likened its leadership to Adolf Hitler.

In an interview with US broadcaster CBS, MBS said, “The Iranian leadership wants to create his own project in the Middle East.”

Saudi Arabia supported US President Donald Trump’s decision to withdraw from the Iran Nuclear Deal in May. The KSA said that they had deep reservations on the agreement which was reached during the Obama administration and fully supports the US policy being pursued against Iran.

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