Saudi Arabia is advancing its nuclear program with plans to enrich and sell uranium, as part of a broader strategy to monetize its mineral resources. Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman made the announcement at a conference in Dhahran, confirming that the kingdom would engage in uranium enrichment and the production of “yellowcake,” a powdered concentrate of uranium used for nuclear reactor fuel. While acknowledging that yellowcake requires careful handling, he emphasized its minimal radiation risks.
The kingdom’s nuclear ambitions have raised regional concerns, especially with Saudi Arabia’s aspirations to develop a nuclear program that could eventually involve uranium enrichment. These moves are seen as sensitive, particularly in light of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s 2018 statement, where he suggested the country would pursue nuclear weapons if Iran were to do the same.
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Saudi Arabia plans to end its light-touch oversight of nuclear facilities by 2024 and will shift to more regular safeguards by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Currently, Saudi Arabia’s nuclear program is monitored under the Small Quantities Protocol (SQP), which provides some exemptions for states with less advanced nuclear programs. However, the kingdom is yet to activate its first nuclear reactor, a crucial step in the development of its nuclear energy sector.
The United Arab Emirates, a neighboring Gulf state, operates the Arab world’s first multi-unit nuclear energy plant but has committed not to engage in uranium enrichment or the reprocessing of spent fuel. Saudi Arabia’s nuclear strategy thus remains a point of regional interest and concern, especially as it seeks to diversify its energy sources.
