Saudi Arabia - World Nuclear Outlook Report

Projection of future nuclear capacity in Saudia Arabia

In April 2013 the King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE) projected 17 GWe of nuclear capacity by 2032. In January 2015 the nuclear target date was moved to 2040.²³²

In September 2016, MEED reported that Saudi Arabia was carrying out technical and economic feasibility studies for the first reactors and was also looking at possible locations for the kingdom’s first nuclear project, a 2.8 GW facility.

In July 2017, the government approved the establishment of the Saudi National Atomic Energy Project (SNAEP) as part of its 'Vision 2030' plan. There are four core components of the SNAEP:

1. Large nuclear power plant – prepare the infrastructure and carry out site characterization out for the first large (1200-1600 MWe) nuclear power plant in Saudi Arabia.
2. Small modular reactor – development of SMRs including high-temperature gas-cooled reactors for use in petrochemical industries, thermal applications and water desalination.
3. Nuclear fuel cycle – achieve self-sufficiency in nuclear fuel production, including development of indigenous uranium and thorium reserves.
4. Regulator – establish a legislative and regulatory framework for the nuclear industry.

A key development of the SNAEP was the establishment in February 2022 of the Saudi Nuclear Energy Holding Company (SNEHC) to act as the developer of the country's national nuclear energy programme.²³³