Saudi Arabia moves forward with bids for nuclear plant

Saudi Arabia moves forward with bids for nuclear plant

Saudi Arabia is progressing with its plans to build its first nuclear power plant, and has received a number of bids recently. 

The Saudi Ministry of Finance noted in its 2023 budget statement that was published on Feb. 15 the “receipt of bids” to build the plant.  The ministry said the bids were received last December. 

The receipt of bids to build the nuclear plant was reported by the Dubai-based business intelligence website, Middle East Economic Digest (MEED), on Monday. 

Background: Saudi Arabia has had an interest in nuclear power for decades. The kingdom was a major investor in Pakistan’s nuclear weapons program that began in the 1970s, for example. In 2009, the late Saudi King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz told the Obama administration that country would obtain nuclear weapons of its own if Iran were to do so. In 2018, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the same thing to the US TV station CBS. 

More recently, Saudi Arabia has been considering developing nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. In 2018, the Saudi government announced its intention to add nuclear power to its energy mix. 

Saudi Arabia’s nuclear ambitions have been gaining momentum as of late. Korea JoongAng Daily reported in November that South Korea was