Islamabad (TDI): The United States and Saudi Arabia are set to sign a preliminary deal to collaborate on Riyadh’s efforts to develop a civil nuclear industry, a senior Saudi diplomat in Pakistan said on Sunday, citing a statement from US Energy Secretary Chris Wright.
In a statement, Saudi Press Attache Dr Naif Al-Otaibi cited remarks by the US Energy Secretary, confirming that Washington and Riyadh are close to formalize a deal to invest in energy and civil nuclear technology.
Following a meeting with Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman in Riyadh on Sunday, Wright told reporters that the two nations are on “a pathway” to reaching a deal to jointly develop Saudi Arabia’s civil nuclear program, Reuters reported.
On his first visit to Saudi Arabia as energy secretary, part of a tour of energy-producing Gulf countries, Wright said that further details of the memorandum outlining energy cooperation between Riyadh and Washington would be disclosed later this year.
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He stated, “A US partnership in nuclear development here will definitely require a 123 deal. There are many ways to structure a deal that meet both the Saudi and US objectives.”
A 123 agreement with Saudi Arabia refers to Section 123 of the US Atomic Energy Act of 1954, which is a prerequisite for allowing US government and companies to collaborate with the kingdom on developing a civil nuclear industry.
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It specifies 9 non-proliferation criteria a country must meet to keep it from using the technology to develop nuclear arms or transfer sensitive materials to others.
Wright noted that Saudi authorities have yet to agree to the conditions outlined in the act.
