In a recent report by the “Wall Street Journal,” Saudi Arabia is reportedly considering a Chinese bid to construct a nuclear power station within the kingdom.
Citing informed Saudi officials, the newspaper stated that the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), a state-owned company, has presented a proposal to build a nuclear facility in the Eastern region, near the borders of Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.
Previously, Saudi Arabia sought US cooperation to establish a civilian nuclear program on its soil, potentially as part of a normalization deal with Israel.
US officials have asserted in the past that they would only share nuclear energy technology if the agreement prevents uranium enrichment or plutonium reprocessing, both of which can lead to nuclear weapon production.
The newspaper added that Saudi officials admitted their engagement with China aimed to pressure the administration of President Joe Biden to relax nuclear proliferation restrictions.
They indicated a preference for hiring the state-owned Korea Electric Power Corporation (015760.KS) from South Korea to build the reactor units of the proposed plant and involve American operational expertise. However, they would not fully commit to the proliferation controls generally required by Washington.
The report detailed that Saudi officials stated Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is prepared to proceed with the Chinese company if talks with the United States prove unsuccessful.
China’s Foreign Ministry was quoted as saying that Beijing will continue collaborating with Riyadh in the field of civilian nuclear energy while adhering to international non-proliferation standards.
Meanwhile, the Israeli Minister of Energy expressed opposition to the idea of Saudi Arabia developing a civilian nuclear program, particularly as part of any American effort to establish stronger Israeli-Saudi relations. Israel anticipates consultations with Washington regarding the Saudi-American agreement, as it affects their national security.
Despite not being a party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and not officially possessing nuclear energy, Israel is widely believed to possess nuclear weapons.
Over the past year, Saudi Arabia has been forging closer ties with China. In March, China played a mediating role in the reestablishment of diplomatic relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran.
China and Saudi Arabia have extensive trade relationships in the energy sector, given that China is the world’s largest crude oil importer, while Saudi Arabia is one of the largest oil producers.
The Chinese State Engineering Corporation is partnering with Saudi company Aqua Power to construct a 2.6-gigawatt solar power station in the Shuaiba region, which is set to become the largest solar energy project in the Middle East.
Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia in December of last year, an event deemed a “milestone in the evolution of Sino-Arab relations” by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Despite this, Saudi Arabia seeks to maintain a balance between China and the United States, with Washington remaining its primary security partner.
