Saudi crown prince launches nuclear plant project

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman launched a project to build the kingdom’s first nuclear reactor.

Described as a low-energy nuclear research reactor by the Saudi Press Agency, the project was one of seven strategic developments the prince launched during a visit on Monday to King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology, a government research lab in Riyadh.

Saudi officials say they plan to build 16 nuclear facilities over the next 20 years at an estimated cost of $80 billion (Dh294 billion).

The crown prince also laid the foundation stone for an aircraft research centre at King Khalid International Airport. The other projects will focus on renewable energy, water desalination and genetic medicine.

Saudi Arabia, the main electricity producer and consumer in the Gulf, relies on oil and natural gas to generate power and desalinate its water. Although energy demand is growing by 8 per cent to 10 per cent a year, oil production is not, and by 2030 a large proportion will be consumed domestically, much of it for electricity generation, according to the World Nuclear Association.

Atomic energy is seen by the kingdom as way to satisfy growing demand for power while also reducing reliance on depleting fossil fuels.