Saudi Arabia said to select two sites for nuclear project

Saudi Arabia has selected two potential sites for its first nuclear power plant project, for which the tendering process is expected this year, MEED reported.

Umm Huwayd and Khor Duweihin, located on the coast near the UAE and Qatar borders, have been shortlisted for project and consultants have been invited to submit proposals for a contract to conduct site study, environmental impact assessment and preliminary safety analysis report.

Based on the findings a final site may be selected.

The two sites were shortlisted on the basis of studies conducted in 2011 and 2012, in accordance with guidelines by international regulatory agencies, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC).

A total of 17 potential sites were identified initially, including nine close to the Red Sea coast, six on the Arabian Gulf and two locations further inland, the news agency said.

The country’s first nuclear project is planned as a two-reactor 2.8 gigawatts (GW) plant.

Saudi Arabia is considering building 17.6 gigawatts of nuclear capacity by 2032, the equivalent of about 17 reactors.