By Saudi Arabia is mulling over a proposal from China to construct a nuclear power plant within its borders, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. This development comes in the backdrop of Saudi frustration with the stringent conditions imposed by the United States in exchange for support in their pursuit of nuclear power.
China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), a state-owned entity, has put forth a plan to build a nuclear facility near the border shared with Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, as revealed by undisclosed Saudi officials cited in the newspaper.
Saudi authorities are hoping that the Chinese bid will exert pressure on the administration of US President Joe Biden to relax its prerequisites for aiding Saudi Arabia’s burgeoning nuclear industry. These conditions encompass commitments to abstain from uranium enrichment and mining their own uranium deposits, stipulations that China is unlikely to insist upon. These requirements are essentially designed to prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons.
Notably, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia in December, and in June, during the Arab-China business summit in Riyadh, both nations announced investment deals amounting to $10 billion over two days. Xi, whose nation ranks as the world’s largest energy consumer, has pledged to foster multifaceted energy cooperation with Gulf countries.
China has been actively looking to export its nuclear energy industry overseas in recent years. In fact, a high-ranking Chinese official stated in 2019 that Beijing could potentially construct up to 30 overseas nuclear reactors as part of its “Belt and Road” infrastructure initiative in the ensuing decade.
China has also significantly increased its diplomatic presence in the region, notably facilitating a deal earlier in the year that led to the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran after years of tension.
Saudi Arabia, a prominent global oil producer, has been exploring the establishment of a domestic nuclear energy sector for years with the aim of reducing its reliance on fossil fuels.
As things stand, the majority of the kingdom’s power requirements are met through the consumption of oil and natural gas, as per data from the US Energy Information Administration.
