Saudi Arabia is moving ahead with its ambitious plans to develop nuclear power and radiation technologies for peaceful purposes, as part of its long-term energy strategy.
The nuclear power plant is set to boost Saudi Arabia’s energy security, aligning with the country’s national priorities and international commitments.
The Kingdom’s Minister of Energy, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman Al Saud, provided a key update on the construction of the Kingdom’s first nuclear power plant during the 68th General Conference of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna.
The minister pointed out the project’s importance in diversifying Saudi Arabia’s energy mix and supporting sustainable development goals.
The minister, who also serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) and the Nuclear and Radiological Regulatory Commission said that Kingdom had progressed in creating the necessary regulatory framework.
The framework is crucial for ensuring that Saudi Arabia’s nuclear ambitions meet both domestic energy needs and global safety standards.
In July 2024, Saudi Arabia submitted a formal request to the IAEA to rescind the Small Quantities Protocol (SQP), an agreement that applies to countries with limited quantities of nuclear materials.
By removing this protocol, the Kingdom is signaling its intention to fully comply with the Comprehensive Safeguards Agreement, which requires states to implement more stringent oversight measures.
“We are working closely with the IAEA to finalise all necessary subsidiary agreements to effectively rescind the SQP by December 2024,” said Abdulaziz.
Saudi Arabia has also strengthened its collaboration with the IAEA by depositing its instrument for acceptance of the IAEA’s Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities in August 2024.
This step, Abdulaziz noted, reaffirms Saudi Arabia’s dedication to adhering to international norms in nuclear security, safety, and safeguards.
The Kingdom has signed several international agreements in these areas, underlining its commitment to the peaceful and safe use of nuclear energy.
The Kingdom’s efforts in nuclear energy have also been supported by the IAEA’s Integrated Regulatory Review Service (IRRS), which conducted a mission to Saudi Arabia in October 2023.
The IRRS mission praised Saudi Arabia’s progress in radiation safety standards and the overall development of its nuclear regulatory framework.
The report acknowledged the Kingdom’s adherence to international best practices and noted that Saudi Arabia is continually refining its nuclear regulatory measures to align with the highest global standards.
Globally, the nuclear energy sector is experiencing renewed interest, particularly as countries seek reliable, low-carbon energy sources to combat climate change.
The IAEA’s latest report, “Energy, Electricity, and Nuclear Power Estimates for the Period up to 2050”, projects that global nuclear capacity could increase by 2.5 times by 2050 in the agency’s high-case scenario.
The growth is expected to be driven in part by small modular reactors (SMRs), which are seen as a promising technology for both electricity generation and non-electric applications.
This upward revision is the fourth consecutive year of increased projections for nuclear power, reflecting the growing recognition of nuclear energy’s role in meeting global climate targets.
IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi, speaking at the Vienna conference, noted that the momentum behind nuclear energy has been accelerating since the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai last year.
Nuclear power was included in the Global Stocktake at COP28, a significant milestone that emphasized the need for scaling up low-emission technologies like nuclear energy to meet international decarbonization goals.
“The new IAEA projections highlight nuclear power as a clean, secure, and increasingly essential component of the global energy mix,” Grossi stated.
He pointed out that SMRs, in particular, offer flexible solutions for both industrial and energy needs, making them a critical technology in addressing climate change and supporting sustainable development.
As of the end of 2023, there were 413 operational nuclear power reactors worldwide, with a total capacity of 371.5 gigawatts (GW). In the IAEA’s high-case scenario, global nuclear capacity is expected to surge to 950 GW by 2050—more than doubling the current level.
Even in the low-case scenario, nuclear capacity is forecast to grow by 40%, reaching 514 GW. SMRs are expected to account for a significant portion of this growth, contributing around one-quarter of the additional capacity in the high-case scenario and 6% in the low-case scenario.
The IAEA’s projections also consider the potential for extending the operational lifetimes of existing nuclear reactors, which is viewed as one of the most cost-effective strategies for producing low-emission electricity.
Around 30 countries are either actively exploring or moving forward with plans to incorporate nuclear power into their energy strategies. Additionally, many nations are extending the lifespans of their existing nuclear plants as part of their efforts to transition to cleaner energy sources.
The future expansion of nuclear energy, according to the IAEA report, will depend on several key factors, including access to financing, infrastructure development, and supportive national policies.
Countries will also need to invest in workforce development, optimise supply chains, and upgrade energy grids to accommodate the growth of nuclear energy—particularly SMRs.
International regulatory collaboration will be crucial to ensuring the safe and effective deployment of these advanced technologies.
