Here are details of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy Law

Logo of King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy

The Cabinet, headed by King Salman bin Abdulaziz, approved last June King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy Law.

The Official gazette, Umm Al-Qura, published the details of the law, which aims to make the city a distinguished scientific and research center contributing to the Kingdom’s development through research and development in areas related to the peaceful uses of atomic energy and renewable energy applications. In addition, the law aims to help the city contribute to the development of national competencies, and promote technology localization in these areas to be part of local content development.

The following are some of the law articles:

Article 1:

 The following words and phrases - wherever they are mentioned in the law - shall have the meanings indicated beside them, unless the context requires otherwise:

 1- City: King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy

 2- Law: The City Law

 3- The Minister: The Minister of Energy

 4- The Board: The City’s board of directors

 5- CEO: The City CEO

 6- Radioactive Waste Management: All administrative and operational activities involved in handling, preparing, treating, conditioning, transporting, storing and disposing of radioactive waste.

 Article 2:

The city enjoys public legal personality as well as financial and administrative independence. It is organizationally linked to the minister, and its head office is located in Riyadh. It may, under a decision from the board, establish branches or offices inside or outside the Kingdom.

 Article 3:

The city aims to be a distinguished scientific and research center, contributing to the Kingdom’s development through research and development in areas related to the peaceful uses of atomic energy and renewable energy applications In addition, the law aims to help the city contribute to the development of national competencies, and promote technology localization in these areas to be part of local content development.

Article 4:

While taking into account the competencies established by the law for other government agencies, the city, in order to achieve its objectives, undertakes the following tasks:

 1- Participate in the preparation of national plans related to the fields of peaceful uses of atomic energy and its technologies as well as applications and techniques of renewable energy, in addition to developing the necessary strategic plans and proposing regulations related to its competencies.

 2- Conduct research and studies in the fields and applications related to its competencies, in addition to benefiting from them in developing the local content.

 3- Maximize intellectual capital, encourage the registration and exploit intellectual property rights and industrial models related to its competencies, in addition to participating in organizing them - in coordination with concerned authorities - to maximize the return from them on the national economy.

4- Develop programs to stimulate the private sector to support research and innovation programs, and develop human capabilities and local content in areas and applications related to its competencies.

5- Prepare draft standards for atomic energy and renewable energy applications, and coordinate with the concerned authorities.

 6- Provide technical and advisory services to support the peaceful uses of atomic energy and renewable energy applications, as well as raise its contribution to the energy mix.

 7- Manage radioactive waste at the national level.

 8- Prepare research and scientific reports periodically in relation to its areas of competencies.

 9- Organize exhibitions, conferences, programs, training courses, seminars and work sessions in the fields and applications related to its competencies.

 10- Provide scholarships and training programs to develop national competencies and raise research and scientific capabilities in fields and applications related to its competencies.

 11- Spread awareness in the fields and applications related to its competencies.

12- Cooperate and exchange experiences with universities, research centers, institutions, bodies, regional and international organizations, and specialized expertise houses inside and outside the Kingdom, in the fields and applications related to its competencies.

 13- International communication and cooperation to benefit from the experiences of other countries in the fields and applications related to its competencies.

14- Conclude agreements with international and regional bodies in accordance with the legal procedures followed to benefit from the best technologies, regulations, research, and scientific studies in the areas and applications related to its competencies.

15- Invest its funds and resources in projects related to its competencies, in order to achieve financial returns for the city.

 16- Any other tasks - approved by the board - related to the objectives of the city.

 Article 5:

 The city shall have a board of directors headed by the minister, and include the following members:

 1- A representative from the Ministry of Energy

 2- A representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

 3- A representative from the Ministry of Commerce

 4- A representative from the Ministry of Health

 5- A representative from the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture

 6- A representative from the Ministry of Finance

 7- A representative from the Ministry of Education

 8- A representative from the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources

 9- A representative from the Research, Development and Innovation Authority

 10- A representative from the National Security Center

 11- A representative from KACST

 12- CEO

 The representatives of government agencies should not be less than the 14th rank or its equivalent.