Saudi Arabia intends to export enriched uranium, the country’s energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said on Monday.
The announcement is the latest indication of Saudi nuclear ambitions.
Saudi Arabia has long expressed an interest in developing a nuclear power sector and has engaged in talks with the United States over nuclear cooperation, which were reportedly linked to regional diplomatic talks.
Currently, the United Arab Emirates and Iran are the only Middle Eastern countries with operating nuclear power plants, though Egypt and Turkey have plants under construction.
The UAE plans to build a second nuclear power plant, which would double the number of its reactors to eight, but has said it will not enrich uranium.
Prince Abdulaziz, speaking on Monday at the Iktva conference in Dhahran, said that Saudi Arabia plans to monetise all minerals, not just uranium, in line with the kingdom’s long-standing ambition to become a regional centre for critical minerals.
Reuters/Ahmed Yosri- Plans to monetise all minerals
- Boost for mineral exploration
- Private investment sought
Saudi Arabia intends to export enriched uranium, the country’s energy minister, Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman, said on Monday.
The announcement is the latest indication of Saudi nuclear ambitions.
Saudi Arabia has long expressed an interest in developing a nuclear power sector and has engaged in talks with the United States over nuclear cooperation, which were reportedly linked to regional diplomatic talks.
Currently, the United Arab Emirates and Iran are the only Middle Eastern countries with operating nuclear power plants, though Egypt and Turkey have plants under construction.
The UAE plans to build a second nuclear power plant, which would double the number of its reactors to eight, but has said it will not enrich uranium.
Prince Abdulaziz, speaking on Monday at the Iktva conference in Dhahran, said that Saudi Arabia plans to monetise all minerals, not just uranium, in line with the kingdom’s long-standing ambition to become a regional centre for critical minerals.
On Sunday, the deputy mining minister and former president of the state-owned mining company Ma’aden, Khalid Al-Mudaifer, told Al Arabiya that the ministry would open an auction for mineral exploration this year for a 50,000 square kilometre area, five times more than the 10,000 sq km area offered in 2024. He did not offer specific details on the auction.
Al-Mudaifer also said that the ministry hopes to increase private investment in mineral exploration from SAR400 million ($106.6 million) a year to SAR700 million.
Last year, Saudi Arabia announced it signed agreements worth SAR35 billion with global mining companies.
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