Tengrinews.kz — The United States and Saudi Arabia have signed a civil nuclear cooperation agreement. The deal will grant American companies access to the kingdom's multi-billion dollar nuclear program and could eventually lead to the establishment of a uranium enrichment facility on its territory.
The documents were signed by U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman.
Key provisions of the agreement
According to According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the parties entered into a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement alongside a separate document detailing bilateral safeguards and control measures.
Such agreements are a legal requirement for the transfer of American nuclear materials, equipment, and technology to other nations. The new treaty establishes a legal framework for a multi-year partnership valued at billions of dollars.
American firms will now be eligible to participate in the construction of nuclear power plants and other critical nuclear infrastructure in Saudi Arabia.
"These agreements meet the highest standards for nuclear safety, security, and nonproliferation," Chris Wright stated.
According to data from the The Associated Press reports that the agreement is set to span approximately 30 years.
Potential for uranium enrichment in Saudi Arabia
According to data from the The Wall Street Journal notes that for the next ten years, Saudi Arabia will be prohibited from developing its own enrichment technologies or acquiring them from third-party states.
Should the parties decide to establish such a facility in the future, it would be built by American companies using a "black box" model. Key equipment and technology would remain under U.S. control and would not be transferred to the Saudi side.
Enriched uranium is used to produce fuel for nuclear power plants. However, at higher concentrations, the same technology can be used to produce material for nuclear weapons.
In 2018, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman stated that if Iran were to develop a nuclear weapon, Saudi Arabia would follow suit.
Differences from the UAE deal
In 2009, when the United Arab Emirates signed a similar agreement with the U.S., it voluntarily renounced uranium enrichment and the reprocessing of spent fuel on its territory.
This approach became known as the "gold standard" of nonproliferation. Saudi Arabia, however, did not agree to a complete renunciation of domestic nuclear fuel production.
According to data from the Reuters, the agreement does not require the kingdom to join the International Atomic Energy Agency's Additional Protocol.
The Additional Protocol grants the IAEA expanded authority for monitoring, short-notice inspections, and verification of undeclared sites. Instead, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have signed their own bilateral safeguards agreement, the details of which have not yet been disclosed.
Why Saudi Arabia needs nuclear power
The kingdom intends to utilize nuclear energy for electricity generation, water desalination, and powering industrial facilities.
As stated on the website of the Saudi National Atomic Energy Project, the development of civil nuclear power is intended to help the country meet growing energy demand, reduce domestic hydrocarbon consumption, and free up more oil for export.
The United States, for its part, expects to secure major contracts for its companies. According to The Wall Street Journal, the agreement is designed to ensure American firms play a central role in the Saudi nuclear program, sidelining competitors including China and Russia. The American company Westinghouse is cited as one of the primary potential participants in the project.
Next steps
The agreement will now be submitted to the U.S. Congress, which has a 90-day continuous session period for review.
To block the deal, Congress would need to pass a joint resolution of disapproval. If the President vetoes such a resolution, a two-thirds majority in both chambers would be required to override it.