Riyadh meeting reviews enhancing Saudi-French nuclear cooperation

RIYADH — The fourth joint meeting of the Saudi-French Nuclear Committee reviewed the existing cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of atomic energy between the Kingdom and France and ways to further enhancing it in a way supportive to the Saudi National Atomic Energy Project.

Dr. Khalid Al-Sultan, president of the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) and the French Ambassador to the Kingdom François Gouyette co-chaired the meeting held at the headquarters of KACARE in Riyadh.

During the meeting, the two sides discussed joint activities to develop human capacities in the field of atomic energy. The discussions also focused on the aspects of potential cooperation between the two sides, in addition to the latest developments on execution of the National Atomic Energy Project in the Kingdom.

The meeting reviewed the National Energy Policy and the Nuclear Energy Industry of France and their main partners.

The two sides also discussed the developments made by joint working groups regarding cooperation in research fields of atomic energy, as well as development of human capacities and competencies in the fields of nuclear energy and radioactive waste management.

The discussions also figured cooperation in the field of nuclear legislative control (safety and security) in coordination with the Saudi Arabian Atomic Regulatory Authority.

In his speech, Dr. Sultan reviewed the progress of cooperation between the two countries in the field of the peaceful use of atomic energy. He stressed the importance of careful planning, especially in the areas of research on atomic energy and the development of human capacities and competencies.

“The cooperation between the two countries requires high-precision preparation during all phases through the extrapolation of elements necessary for development, and careful supervision of time bound schedules for each stage. The energy sector represents strategic importance contributing to the achievement of its safe and sustainable future so as to achieve the goals of the Vision 2030 under the leadership of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman and Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman,” he said.

Several senior officials of KACARE and Saudi Atomic Regulatory Authority attended the meeting. The French delegation, led by Ambassador Gouyette, included representatives from various ministries and nuclear control bodies.