Saudi Nuclear Plan Gets Green Light

By The Media Line News Agency; Special to The Jerusalem Post

The Saudi cabinet has approved an agreement with the International Atomic Energy Agency on the protocols and application of safeguards under the Nuclear Non- Proliferation Treaty, the Saudi paper Arab News has reported.

The Saudis established their Atomic Energy Research Institute outside Riyadh in 1988 to conduct research for peaceful purposes. There have been no allegations that the Saudis are trying to build nuclear weapons, and they also lack the missiles needed to carry them.

In 2006 Saudi Arabia, together with the five other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council announced they were setting up a commission to study the peaceful uses of nuclear energy. For technical expertise most of GCC countries turned to France and not to their traditional ally, the US.

While it might seem strange that the world’s largest producer of oil would need nuclear power to supply electricity, many analysts say that with crude oil prices at record levels it makes sense to sell the oil abroad and use nuclear power at home.

Meanwhile, during a visit to Iran by Algerian President Abd al- Aziz Bouteflika the possibility of establishing a cartel to control the production of natural gas was again raised. There have previously been discussions among various countries to set up the equivalent of OPEC for natural gas, but so far the proposal has not materialized.

Originally published by The Media Line News Agency, Special to The Jerusalem Post.

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