The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is on the brink of acquiring its first nuclear research reactor, Rafael Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said at the World Economic Forum in Davos.
"They [Saudi Arabia] are close to getting their first research [nuclear] reactor built by an Argentine company. It will be a kind of training tool for local engineers and nuclear physicists," stated Grossi. He highlighted Saudi Arabia's keen interest in swiftly advancing in nuclear capabilities, drawing inspiration from the neighboring United Arab Emirates (UAE).
According to Grossi, the UAE serves as a noteworthy example of a country successfully integrating civil nuclear power into its energy system in a relatively short period. He commented on the common perception that the nuclear industry requires extensive time and resources, citing the Baraka nuclear power plant in Abu Dhabi as evidence to the contrary. The Baraka plant, the first nuclear power facility in the Arab world, commenced operations in 2020 and is set to achieve a capacity of 5.6 GW upon completion in 2025, contributing approximately 25% of the UAE's electricity needs.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Dean Calma/IAEA CC2.0
Based on materials from TASS