Gulf Construction Online - Kingdom to set up 16 nuclear research reactors

Saudi Focus

Kingdom to set up 16 nuclear research reactors

01 December 2018

Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz laid the foundation stone last month for the kingdom’s first nuclear research reactor.

The project is one of seven major projects in the fields of renewable energy, atomic energy, water desalination, genetic medicine and aircraft design that were launched by the Crown Prince last month during his visit to King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST), SPA reported.

The projects comprise three giant developments: the nuclear research reactor; a centre for developing aircraft fuselage; and the Saudi Central Laboratory for Human Genome.

The design of the reactor has been developed by KACST scientists with the help of international experts. Construction of the reactor is already under way and expected to be completed by the end of next year, said an Arab News report.

It will follow all the safety standards of the International Atomic Energy Agency. The reactor is designed to use uranium oxide fuel with 2.1 per cent enrichment.

The kingdom plans to build two full nuclear power reactors for energy and as many as 16 over the next 25 years, the Arab News said.

The other projects launched by the Crown Prince included a solar energy-powered desalination station in Khafji with a capacity of 60,000 cu m per day; two production lines for solar panels and cells; and a laboratory to check solar panels, to be based in Uyaynah.

Another major project reviewed by the Crown Prince is the centre for the development of aircraft fuselage to be based at King Khalid International Airport. The centre, which will have the capacity to manufacture most aircraft structures, is one of the largest buildings for developing aircraft in the Middle East with an area of 27,000 sq m with plans to expand it to 92,000 sq m.