Middle East Worries about Saudi Arabia’s Nuclear Project
Beirut, Apr 9 (Prensa Latina) Experts from the Middle East on Tuesday expressed concern about the Saudi nuclear project that is still outside the safeguards stipulated by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano made public that he asked Riyadh for its commitment to join the regulations to purchase fissionable material destined for his first atomic reactor.
Amano said that Saudi Arabia could import that material in late 2019 for a plant that is being built with Argentine assistance.
According to the IAEA chief, the Saudis were called upon to put in force an agreement, by virtue of which the agency can guarantee the peaceful nature of the project.
Saudi Arabia signed a small-scale protocol in 2005 that exempts countries with minimal or no nuclear programs from inspections.
Riyadh announced plans to invest about $80 billion USD in the construction of 16 nuclear power stations in the next two decades.
The project reportedly raises concerns about the risks of a race for nuclear weapon in the Middle East.
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