JEDDAH: The Saudi government has approved its national nuclear program policy as tabled by Khaled Al-Faleh, energy minister and chairman of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE).
The government reviewed the policy in its cabinet session on Tuesday and published new guidelines to ensure that nuclear development for peaceful use must comply with all legislation, conventions and international agreements.
The government called on all involved to uphold transparency in organizational and operational matters and to comply with nuclear safety and security processes through an independent monitoring system.
It also called for compliance with the international standards for nuclear waste disposal — and to insure the continuity of the program through developing national capability in nuclear energy to maintain and improve the sector in the Kingdom.
Al-Faleh said in October that the nuclear program would start by building two reactors, each producing between 1.2 and 1.6 gigawatts of electricity.
The Saudi cabinet says its nuclear program will be in “full compliance with the principle of transparency” and meet nuclear safety standards “in accordance with an independent regulatory and supervisory framework.”
Energy consumption in Saudi Arabia has been rising at more than five percent per year although growth slowed in 2017 after the government cut subsidies and hiked prices.
Electricity consumption is expected to double over the next 15 years, reaching 120 gigawatts by 2032, said Abdullah Al-Shehri, governor of Saudi Arabia’s Electricity and Co-generation Regulatory Authority.
The Kingdom draws on oil and natural gas to both generate power and desalinate its water so turning to other sources of power, including solar, would free up crude for exportation.
By 2040, 55 percent of the country’s power supply will come from solar, wind, geothermal and nuclear energy combined, according to KACARE.
The projects will cost the Kingdom around $67 billion over the next five years, according to energy minister Faleh.
Saudi government has approved its national nuclear policy
Saudi government has approved its national nuclear policy
The founding economy: A blueprint for stability in the First Saudi State
- The establishment of the First Saudi State created a secure environment that facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula
RIYADH: The economy during the founding stage of the First Saudi State served as a fundamental pillar in building the nation, consolidating its influence, and ensuring its stability. This early economic growth was inextricably linked to achieving security, unifying regions, and organizing society—factors that directly stimulated trade, stabilized markets, and enhanced the foundations of daily life in Diriyah and its surrounding areas.
According to Dr. Abdullah Al-Saleh Al-Othaimeen's "Diriyah: Origins and Development during the First Saudi State," published by the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (Darah), the founding economy stands as a historical model reflecting the reciprocal relationship between political stability and early economic prosperity.
The establishment of the First Saudi State created a secure environment that facilitated the arrival of caravans, secured vast trade routes, and revived commerce across the Arabian Peninsula.
Beyond its political and intellectual prominence, Diriyah emerged as a vibrant economic hub. Its active markets attracted merchants and students from across the region, all of whom benefited from the state-provided stability. The local society relied on diverse activities for its livelihood, including trade, agriculture, and livestock breeding, with horses and camels playing crucial roles in transportation, commerce, and securing roads.
The social and administrative organization upon which the state was founded ensured the continuous availability of goods and sustained market stability. Ultimately, the close relationship between public security and economic growth during this founding phase solidified Diriyah's position as a premier political and commercial center in the Arabian Peninsula.
