US considers easing rules to bag Saudi nuclear project: report

The US government is “encouraging” Saudi Arabia to consider bids by Westinghouse Electric Co. and other American companies to build nuclear reactors, Bloomberg reported, citing three unnamed sources.

As part of the deal, the US “may allow the enrichment of uranium,” the report said.

Earlier this month, Saudi energy minister Khalid Al-Falih called on US firms to participate in developing its civilian nuclear power programs, during US Energy Secretary Rick Perry’s visit to the Kingdom.

Previous US agreements have prohibited the enrichment and reprocessing of uranium, derailing negotiations to use American technology in Saudi nuclear projects during the Obama administration. 

However, the Trump administration is considering easing that requirement to help Westinghouse and other companies win Saudi Arabian contracts, sources told Bloomberg.

On Monday, French state-controlled utility Electricité de France (EDF) CEO Jean-Bernard Levy confirmed the company wants to participate in the development of nuclear power plants in Saudi Arabia and has held talks on selling Areva-designed European Pressurized Reactors to the Kingdom.

Russia and South Korea have also expressed interest in developing nuclear power projects for the world’s top oil exporter.

Saudi Arabia is considering building 17.6 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2032, the equivalent of about 17 reactors. It has sent a request for information to international suppliers to build two reactors.