Saudi Arabia begins exploration of uranium, thorium

The Saudi Geological Survey (SGS) has started a survey to explore and assess uranium and thorium resources in the Hail region of the Al Hail Province.

The project, which is being carried out in cooperation with the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KACARE) and the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC), aims to explore uranium and thorium deposits for peaceful use.

During the launch of the project last Thursday, SGS president Zohair Nawab said the Kingdom had no intentions to use nuclear energy for military purposes.

The exploration survey is intended for mineral wealth exploration, power generation, seawater desalination, and developing renewable energy sources, he added.

In March, SGS and CNNC signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in Beijing for bilateral cooperation in mineral resources. The two companies signed another MoU in September to explore uranium and thorium resources.

In October, Hashim bin Abdullah Yamani, president of KACARE, the agency tasked with the nuclear plans, said in Abu Dhabi that the Kingdom plans to extract uranium domestically as part of its nuclear power program and sees it as a step towards “self-sufficiency” in producing atomic fuel.

The world’s top oil exporter will award a construction contract for its first two nuclear reactors by the end of 2018, according to Reuters.

Last week, Bloomberg reported, citing three unnamed sources that the US government was “encouraging” Saudi Arabia to consider bids by American companies to build nuclear reactors and “may allow the enrichment of uranium.”

Photos Courtesy of Saudi Geological Survey